China’s Coast Guard vessel sprays water on Philippine vessel near Bajo de Masinloc

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel on Thursday fired water cannon on Philippine vessels delivering fuel and food supplies to local fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc.

Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard.

Manuel Mogato, Anna Mogato | July 23, 2026

MANILA — A Chinese Coast Guard vessel on Thursday fired water cannon on Philippine vessels delivering fuel and food supplies to local fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc.

Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, a Coast Guard spokesman, said the incident was the second Chinese attack this week after Chinese Coast Guard personnel struck two Philippine Navy members with a wooden stick on Monday in Ayungin Shoal in another part of the West Philippine Sea. (Also read: Marcos summons Chinese ambassador over Ayungin Shoal incident)

Minutes after the water cannon incident, another Chinese Coast Guard vessel crossed about 500 meters in front of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, BRP Datu Paiburong (MMOV 3018), in what was described as a dangerous maneuver. (Also read: Rubio says China escalates action on Ayungin Shoal)

“These actions violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) and endangered Filipino personnel engaged in a purely humanitarian undertaking,” Tarriela said.

The Philippine government vessels completed the distribution of fuel and food packs to Filipino fishing boats in the area by mid-morning.

Another Coast Guard vessel, BRP Datu Sumakwel (MMOV 3019), also continued patrol and resupply operations.

The incident was witnessed by a Coast Guard plane on a maritime domain awareness flight over Bajo de Masinloc.

During the flight, the aircraft received a radio challenge from Chinese forces while operating within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The aircraft monitored three CCG vessels, two Chinese maritime militia vessels and one People’s Liberation Army-Navy vessel in the area.

At the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Manila, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi lodged a “strong protest” against the Philippine serviceman’s “reckless act” against the China Coast Guard vessel at Ayungin Shoal.

In a statement released by China’s Embassy, Wang had a “candid” discussion on the Ayungin incident with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro.

“Wang Yi stated that attempts to provoke trouble with the help of external forces will only make the Philippines reap what it sows,” the embassy statement said.

“Regrettably, every time China and the Philippines are poised to hold dialogue, some people within the Philippines, particularly some forces in the military and police, would deliberately create incidents to derail the dialogue process. These people harbour ill intentions.”