PH logs 2026’s first Chinese harassment in Scarborough Shoal

MANILA, Philippines — The first recorded harassment by Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea for 2026 took place in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, authorities said Tuesday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said crewmen of the fishing boat Prince LJ  on Monday spotted the presence of a People’s Liberation Army-Navy warship and was subjected to aggressive actions of China Coast Guard (CCG) ship about 16 nautical miles southeast of Panatag Shoal.

“The fishing boat’s captain changed course to the southeast to evade the vessels but reported being closely trailed by the China Coast Guard ship,” Tarriela said in a statement.

This incident was captured in a phone video captured by the crew of Prince LJ.

The CCG vessel with hull number 23521 came as close as 30 meters, blocking its boat’s path while using blaring sirens, according to Tarriela.

For its part, the PCG multirole response vessel, BRP Cape San Agustin, responded after this by “rendezvousing” the Prince LJ for a few hours, said Tarriela.

Fisher not afraid but alert

“I wasn’t really afraid, but it’s better to be alert,” said Ryan Jacinto, the captain of Prince LJ aboard BRP Cape San Agustin, in a video handout shared by the PCG.

The fishing boat, which also received diesel fuel from PCG, continued its course to their fishing area west of Panatag Shoal, according to Tarriela.

“The presence of the Philippine Coast Guard is a big thing for us fisherfolk,” Jacinto said.

Moves ‘to destroy PH’s will to fish’

“I would say, this is the first harassment incident in the year 2026,” said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, in a regular military briefing.

“These are coercive and aggressive actions designed to destroy the will to fish of our fishermen,” Trinidad added.

Since its effective takeover in 2012, China has enforced what experts call an “exclusion zone enforcement” around Panatag, preventing fisherfolk from accessing it. 

Through its “10-dash line,” Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, but Manila brought the matter to an international court, which ruled in its favor on sovereign rights in 2016.

The arbitral tribunal also declared the Panatag Shoal a traditional fishing ground for the Philippines, China and Vietnam. 

In its refusal to recognize this ruling, China continued its aggressive actions there, the most notable of which occurred on Aug. 11, 2025, which led to the collision of its coast guard vessel and navy warship. /das /gsg