AFP on deaths of 2 CCG personnel: Unsafe sea maneuvers raise risk of accidents

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said that unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers at sea could increase the risk of accidents and loss of life.

At a press press briefing, the AFP issued the statement after Beijing confirmed the deaths of two of its Chinese personnel in a collision involving a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessel near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“In the conduct of AFP operations, mission accomplishment and safety of the men and women involved are always paramount,” AFP spokesperson for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a press briefing.

“We reiterate that unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers at sea increase the risk of accidents and endanger lives,” he added.

China recently confirmed that two CCG personnel died in the collision last August 2025.

Beijing described the two personnel as “martyrs” who died during what it called a rights-defense operation in the South China Sea.

Asked about this, Trinidad emphasized the need for all seafaring nations to follow established protocols.

He said adherence to international law and maritime safety protocols is crucial to preventing incidents that could endanger personnel and further escalate tensions in the WPS. — BAP, GMA News