Chinese ship uses water cannon vs PH vessel in Bajo de Masinloc

A Chinese vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel during a mission to aid Filipino fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea on Monday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

“During the operation, Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions from other vessels in the vicinity,” PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said. 

“In particular, the MRRV 4406 (BRP Suluan) was targeted with a water cannon, but the seamanship skills by PCG crew members allowed the vessel to successfully evade from getting hit,” he added.

Tarriela said the PCG has deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Suluan, along with MV Pamamalakaya, to carry out the “Kadiwa Para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda (KBBM)” initiative.

There were around 35 Filipino fishing vessels in Bajo de Masinloc.

Aside from water cannoning, Chinese vessels also conducted hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions against Philippine vessels that led to a collision between China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164, Tarriela said.

Collision

“In a related incident, a collision took place between China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104 and People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) ship 164, approximately 10.5 nautical miles east of Bajo de Masinloc,” he said.

“The CCG 3104, which was chasing the BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky maneuver from the PCG vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA Navy warship,” he added.

According to Tarriela, the CCG vessel's forecastle sustained substantial damage, rendering it unseaworthy.

“Following the collision, the PCG immediately offered support, including assistance with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured CCG crew members,” Tarriela said.

However, the PCG official said in a virtual interview that China did not respond to the Philippines’ offer to help.

“Meanwhile, the MRRV 9701 safely escorted the Filipino fishermen to a secure location, where they are now being provided with essential fuel and supplies,” he added.

No damage and injuries were reported from the Philippine ships, according to Tarriela.

GMA News Online contacted the Chinese Embassy to get its statement on the incident but it has yet to issue one as of posting time.

In an interview with reporters, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian maintained China's claim to the West Philippine Sea, saying that it had to do what is “necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law.”

“The Philippines’ moves seriously infringed upon China’s sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.

“China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocative activities at once and refrain from challenging China’s firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests,” he added.

Operation continued

Meanwhile, Tarriela said the distribution of the assistance for the fisherfolks continued despite the incident.

“Na-gather na ng BRP Teresa Magbanua, ito ‘yung isang barko na kasama ng BRP Suluan, ang mahigit kumulang na 35 Filipino fishing vessels,” he said in an interview on Balitanghali.

(BRP Teresa Magbanua gathered the around 35 Filipino fishing vessels in  Bajo de Masinloc.)

“Tumatanggap sila ngayon ng ayuda from the government, especially fuel and even yelo para mas matagal makapangisda sa Bajo de Masinloc,” he added. 

(They are now accepting the ayuda from the government including oil, and ice.)

Maritime expert

At least seven China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and 14 Chinese maritime militia ships were restricting three Philippine vessels during the mission around Bajo de Masinloc, a maritime expert said Monday morning.

????1/The ????????#Philippines is carrying out an apparent "Kadiwa" mission near Scarborough Shoal today with M/V Mamalakaya, supported by at least one coast guard (BRP Teresa Magbanua) & one Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources (BRP Datu Romapanet) vessels. [????1/4] pic.twitter.com/jYWLw4ljiv

— Ray Powell (@GordianKnotRay) August 10, 2025

“The Philippines is carrying out an apparent ‘Kadiwa’ mission near Scarborough Shoal today with M/V Mamalakaya, supported by at least one coast guard (BRP Teresa Magbanua) and one Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BRP Datu Romapanet),” former US Air Force official and ex-Defense Attaché Ray Powell said on X (formerly Twitter).

“This Kadiwa mission is encountering a very heavy flotilla of Chinese vessels enforcing China's 25 to 30 nautical miles exclusion zone around the shoal, with at least seven coast guard & 14 maritime militia ships visible on AIS (automatic information system),” he added.

PH won't back out

A few hours after the incident, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said Philippine assets would never back out.

''We have never instructed any of our vessels to back out,'' Marcos said at a press briefing.

''Never, never. But we have to always – we do not back out because natakot tayo, umatras tayo. Alam mo, I don't know about other places, pero dito sa – dito sa gobyernong ito, hindi tayo umaatras sa laban (We do not back out just because we are scared. In this government, we will not back out.),'' he added. 

''We don't – we don't… We are brave. Filipinos are brave,'' the President said. 

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country’s claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."

China has refused to recognize the decision. — with a report from Sundy Locus, Mariel Celine Serquiña/KG/RSJ/BAP, GMA Integrated News