PH strongly condemns China’s ‘illegal, reckless action’ in WPS
A Chinese vessel is seen using a water cannon on the BRP Pagbuaya, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, in a photo posted by Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, on Sunday, October 12, 2025. The Chinese vessel later rammed the Pagbuaya. — Photo from Jay Tarriela/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government strongly condemned the latest act of aggression by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and its maritime militia vessels against Philippine vessels within the territorial sea of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island.
Manila would file another diplomatic protest against Beijing and told the Asian superpower to be sincere in its pronouncements of maintaining peace in the region by stopping its aggressions.
In a statement on Sunday, the National Maritime Council (NMC) called the CCG’s “illegal and reckless actions” in the waters of Pag-asa Island a “grave concern” to the country.
READ: PH says Chinese vessel ‘deliberately rammed’ government ship
The NMC is the interagency body created by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in March 2024 to strengthen the Philippines’ maritime security and increase maritime domain awareness among Filipinos amid China’s aggressive tactics and threats in the West Philippine Sea.
“The Philippines will undertake the appropriate diplomatic action to convey its strong objections to the aggressive and illegal actions of China, and urges it to immediately cease these actions, respect international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, and avoid further escalation in the region,” the NMC said.
“China must be sincere and hold true to its call for dialogue and consultation by demonstrating constructive actions and desisting from all provocative actions,” it added.
According to the NMC, around 8:15 on Sunday, three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, including the 30-meter BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were anchored near Pag-asa Island to assist Filipino fisherfolk under the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM) program when CCG and Chinese maritime militia vessels “approached and conducted dangerous maneuvers and activated their water cannons.”
By 9:15 a.m., well within the territorial sea of Pagasa Island, the CCG vessel with bow number 21559 fired a water cannon directly at BRP Datu Pagbuaya, and “deliberately” rammed its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries to the crew.
The Philippine government maintained that Pag-asa Island is a territory of the Philippines as part of the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) of Palawan province.
“The Philippines is clearly within its rights to conduct routine maritime operations in and around Pag-asa Island, and will continue to do so,” the NMC said.
No right
According to the NMC, the actions of Philippine authorities within the 22-kilometer territorial sea of Pag-asa Island were “a valid exercise of Philippine sovereignty and jurisdiction,” and consistent with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, as well as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
“China has no right to interfere with these lawful and routine activities,” it added.
Pag-asa is the second-largest naturally occurring feature in Spratlys, next to the Taiwanese-occupied Itu Aba, and the only one with civilian inhabitants. It has been occupied by the Philippines since 1971.
The barangay island serves as the town proper of the Kalayaan municipality of Palawan, and has an airfield and a naval base. Around 400 residents are currently living on the island.
It is located 445 km from Palawan’s capital city of Puerto Princesa.
Repeat attacker
The 155-meter CCG ship 21559 had been involved in a number of aggressive actions targeting smaller Philippine vessels, either of BFAR, the PCG, or the government’s contracted private boats.
On May 21, it used its water cannon and sideswiped BRP Datu Sanday twice, causing damage to the vessel’s port bow and smokestack.
The attack happened while BFAR was conducting its routine mission with a team of scientists to collect sand samples near Pag-asa Cay 2 (Sandy Cay).
READ: China Coast Guard sideswipes, uses water cannon on BFAR boat
On Dec. 4, 2024, CCG 21559 was among the seven Chinese ships that conducted a blocking maneuver to prevent BRP Romapenet, another vessel of the BFAR, from accessing Filipino fisherfolk in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.
Videos released by Philippine authorities showed that CCG 21559 “intentionally rammed” the smaller BRP Datu Romapenet.
The CCG ship was also among those regularly patrolling the waters in the West Philippine Sea, particularly near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). /mr
