China Coast Guard ship watercannons, rams PH vessel near Pag-asa

A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship water cannoned and later rammed a Philippine government vessel in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island on Sunday morning, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said.

“This morning, while three BFAR vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, were safely anchored in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island to provide protection for Filipino fishermen as part of the “Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda” (KBBM), they faced dangerous and provocative maneuvers from the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels," said Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, via a tweet on X. 

PCG and BFAR Stand Firm Against Chinese Bullying and Aggressive Actions in Pag-asa

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have reaffirmed their strong commitment to protecting Filipino fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group,… pic.twitter.com/okA55L9oWs

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) October 12, 2025

The PCG offical said that around 8:15 a.m., "the Chinese maritime forces approached dangerously close, activating their water cannons as a clear threat against the BFAR vessels.”

The PCG said the situation “escalated” at 9:15 a.m. when a CCG vessel with bow number 21559 fired its water cannon directly at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, hitting the vessel. 

Three minutes later, the Coast Guard said the same CCG vessel deliberately rammed the stern of the Datu Pagbuaya with the impact captured on video. The PCG said the contact caused “minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew.”

The PCG said both the agency and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have reaffirmed their “strong commitment to protecting Filipino fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group, vowing to remain undeterred despite aggressive harassment and direct threats from Chinese vessels in the territorial waters of Pag-asa Island.”

“Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions, the PCG and BFAR remain resolute. We will not be intimidated or driven away, as our presence in the Kalayaan Island Group is crucial for protecting the rights and livelihoods of Filipino fishermen,” the PCG official said.

The National Maritime Council (NMC) released a statement condemning the latest act of aggression by Beijing.

"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," NMC said in its statement.

GMA News Online contacted the Chinese Embassy and will update this story once they issue a statement. —with a report from Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF/KG, GMA Integrated News