Anna Mogato | September 19, 2026
MANILA — The Philippine’s foreign ministry condemned China Coast Guard’s ramming of a fisheries vessel near Palawan, the latest incident of harassment in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) conducted illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous (ICAD) maneuvers, which are inconsistent with China’s obligations under international law.
“There is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel, and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew,” the statement read.
“The Philippines emphasizes that the BFAR vessel was merely conducting routine and lawful humanitarian activities to support Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea.”
The DFA also called on China to respect the Philippines’ sovereign rights and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling which recognizes the Philippines’ entitlements to parts of South China Sea. (Also read: Philippines still seeks diplomatic route over South China Sea conflict)
In the past, China has fired watercannons, shadowed, and made dangerous maneuvers that threaten lives of Filipinos at sea.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including portions of Philippine maritime zones known as the West Philippine Sea.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam have also conflicting claims in the strategic sea lanes, believed to have rich deposits of energy and mineral resources.
More than $3 trillion in trade passes annually in the South China Sea.