Chinese vessels perform dangerous moves vs PH ships in West Philippine Sea

Chinese vessels, including warships, blocked and performed dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships during the distribution of subsidies to Filipino fishers near Bajo de Masinloc and Escoda Shoal on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard said. 

PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela said ships from the PCG as well as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources were deployed for the mission. 

Near Bajo de Masinloc, Tarriela said PCG ships BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cape San Agustin, alongside the M/V Mamalakaya and six BFAR patrol boats, conducted the distribution despite “significant challenges.”

“Philippine government vessels encountered dangerous maneuvers and blocking actions from 11 China Coast Guard (CCG) ships and 11 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels, one People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) helicopter, and three PLAN vessels, delaying the delivery process,” he said in a statement on Monday evening. 

Tarriela noted that for the first time, the PCG documented a CCG radio challenge claiming that the presence of Philippine fishing boats could damage their "environmental reserve." 

PCG and BFAR Deliver Supplies to Filipino Fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc and Escoda Shoal Amid Chinese Harassment

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) successfully distributed fuel subsidies, food supplies, and crushed ice to… pic.twitter.com/arWMn4awOA

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) October 13, 2025

“In response, the PCG firmly asserted that Bajo de Masinloc is an integral part of the Philippine archipelago, and only the Philippine government holds the authority to designate environmental protection areas in these waters,” Tarriela said. 

Meanwhile, near Escoda Shoal, Tarriela said there were 10 CCG vessels, 10 Chinese maritime militia vessels, one PLAN helicopter, two PLAN vessels, and one high-speed response boat (HSRB) obstructing the aid mission. 

“There were documented instances of CCG vessels activating water cannons to threaten and intimidate Filipino fishermen,” Tarriela said. 

“Undeterred, the PCG's BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Cabra, supported by five BFAR patrol boats, relied on exceptional seamanship to ensure the safe delivery of supplies,” he added. 

GMA News Online has sought comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila about the incident but it has yet to provide a statement as of posting time. 

According to Tarriela, the mission was completed at 7 p.m. on Monday. 

The mission dubbed as part "Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda" (KBBM) initiative aims to support the country’s vital fishing communities.

“The mission reached more than 50 fishing boats in Bajo de Masinloc and over 40 in Escoda Shoal, providing an estimated 120,000 liters of fuel oil, more than 600 grocery packs, and facilitating the sale of 30 tons of fresh fish catch to the government by local fishermen,” Tarriela said. 

“This aid underscores the Philippine government's unwavering commitment to bolstering the livelihoods of its fisherfolk in traditional fishing grounds within the West Philippine Sea,” he added. 

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.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronniel Gil Gavan said, "My top priority is to safeguard their livelihoods from any interference by the CCG and to ensure their rights as Filipinos are never suppressed by external bullying.”

“We stand firmly with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in defending every square inch of our sovereign territory against any foreign power,” he added.—AOL, GMA Integrated News