AFP on 2 Chinese sailors’ deaths: Uphold lawful acts at sea
MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said that any seafaring nation must maintain “professional” and international law-backed actions to prevent the risk of accidents or untoward loss of life at sea.
The statements came as Beijing confirmed the death of two sailors who were killed in a collision of two Chinese vessels while pursuing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in 2025.
READ: China confirms sailors died in 2025 West PH collision
Speaking at a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the WPS, said, when asked about the incident last year, that “unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers” at sea only endangered lives.
“In the conduct of AFP operations, mission accomplishment and safety of the men and women involved are always paramount. It is for these reasons that all our actions have to be professional, have to be within established protocols, and backed up by international law,” Trinidad said.
He added that any seafaring nation should act within the bounds of the established international laws, such as the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), also known as the global “rules of the road” for vessels, and other maritime regulations to avoid risks of life.
“All our actions by any nation and seafaring nation will have to be professional, will have to be within the bounds of established protocols, such as the rules of the road, COLREGS, and other established protocols, and backed up by international law,” he added.
China’s People’s Armed Police Force said on social media last week that it had awarded four “martyrs”, including Chinese Coast Guard officers Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long, a special title for “steadfast political convictions, exemplary deeds and outstanding achievements.”
According to their profiles in the China Martyrs Network, Yi and Cheng both died on Aug. 11, 2025, during a “rights-defense operation.” /jpv
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