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PH Navy: Contingency measures in place for Chinese ships grounding in West PH Sea

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — A Philippine Navy official said appropriate contingency measures are in place should Chinese maritime forces deliberately ground their ships in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“In the Philippine Navy and in the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we do not deal [with] speculation. Nevertheless, we have appropriate contingencies in place for any eventuality,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, told reporters at Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City on Tuesday.</p><p>A Chinese vessel—resembling those used by the Chinese maritime militia—with bow number 16838 ran aground in waters off the eastern part of Pag-asa Island in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) on Saturday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/6/8/chinese-vessel-grounded-near-pag-asa-island-extricated-itself-navy-0828">Chinese vessel grounded near Pag-asa Island ‘extricated itself’ — Navy</a></div><p>The ship extricated itself some two hours later. </p><p>Trinidad noted that when the grounded vessel was reported, coordination was immediately done with the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).</p><p>“The PCG was able to dispatch a rubber boat to be able to check on the safety of life and the equipment aboard the ship,” Trinidad said. “There was no report, initially, on the environmental damage. Hindi naman siya ganun katagal nakasadsad doon. They were able to extricate after a few hours.”</p><div> </div><div><strong>ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The coast guard on Monday said it was preparing to assess any environmental damage on Pag-asa Reef 1, where the Chinese vessel ran aground.</p><p>“The PCG, in collaboration with other relevant organizations, is preparing to carry out an environmental damage assessment on the reef caused by the unlawful presence of the Chinese maritime militia in the Philippines’ territorial waters,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said in a statement.</p><p>“The goal of this assessment is to evaluate any potential ecological impacts resulting from this situation,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/27/ph-navy-monitors-normal-presence-of-chinese-coast-guard-near-pag-asa-island-1420">PH Navy monitors &#x27;normal presence&#x27; of Chinese coast guard, maritime militia ships near Pag-asa Island</a></div><p>Inclement weather in the area during the time might have caused the Chinese vessel to run aground. </p><p>“The said Chinese vessel was likely driven into the shallow area due to adverse sea conditions, characterized by wave heights of 2 to 3 meters and strong winds,” Tarriela noted.</p><p>He said PCG personnel stationed at Pag-asa Island reached out to the grounded vessel to help.</p><p>“Unfortunately, the vessel did not respond to the PCG’s inquiries,” the official said.</p><p>“It was noted that the China Coast Guard (CCG) with bow number 5102 communicated with the Chinese maritime militia during the incident but opted not to approach, fearing that their own vessel might also be at risk of grounding in the shallow waters,” he continued.</p><p>Sightings of Chinese vessels from Pag-asa Island are considered “normal” given the feature’s proximity to Subi Reef, which China has controlled after years of unimpeded construction of military facilities.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/26/pcg-vessels-to-escort-atin-ito-mission-to-west-ph-sea-group-says-china-invited-1423">PCG vessels to escort &#x27;Atin Ito&#x27; mission to West PH Sea; group says China &#x27;invited&#x27;</a></div><p>Subi Reef is located outside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but is part of Pag-asa Island’s 12-nautical mile territorial sea.</p><div><iframe width="727" height="409" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7zEoLy1BSwM" title="PH Navy to Chinese maritime forces: Leave PH territorial waters | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>A Philippine Navy official said appropriate contingency measures are in place should Chinese maritime forces deliberately ground their ships in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

A Philippine Navy official said appropriate contingency measures are in place should Chinese maritime forces deliberately ground their ships in the West Philippine Sea.

Contingency measures in place for grounded Chinese ships in West Philippine Sea: Navy

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Contingency measures in place for grounded Chinese ships in West Philippine Sea: Navy

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 11, 2025 01:41 PM PHT

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Updated June 11, 2025 04:51 PM PHT

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