Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The two Chinese vessels that collided while pursuing the BRP Suluan near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal last Monday are already headed back to mainland China, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday.</p><p>“These vessels, the China Coast Guard (CCG) 3104 and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy 164 are not proceeding to those reclaimed islands of China. These vessels are proceeding directly to mainland China,” PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela told reporters in a press briefing.</p><p>“Probably, it needs repair or has some administrative concerns,” he added.</p><p>The incident occurred as the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Suluan escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area.</p><p>A video released by the PCG showed that there were around four personnel of the CCG 3104 at the front of their vessel, installing a fender, when they were suddenly rammed by PLA Navy 164.</p><p>Immediately after the impact, the four personnel could no longer be seen in the video.</p><p>The CCG ship also sustained heavy damage in the incident.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/8/15/ph-not-responsible-for-chinese-ship-collision-in-bajo-de-masinloc-dfa-1130"><strong>PH not responsible for Chinese ship collision in Bajo de Masinloc: DFA</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CCG POSITIONED IN ALL DIRECTIONS OF BAJO DE MASINLOC</strong></div><p>At present, four CCG vessels remain illegally positioned in all four directions of Bajo de Masinloc, which is within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.</p><p>“[They are] keeping a distance of 24 nautical miles, strategically deployed in four directions of BDM: 3105 guarding the northwest, 4402 in the west, 4205 southwest, 3305 southeast,” Tarriela said.</p><p>The PCG is also monitoring the Chinese research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, which arrived at the shoal after coming from Palawan.</p><p>“Xiang Yang Hong departed Guangdong June 23. It went directly to BDM and made a sharp turn going to Palawan. Now, it is back in BDM,” Tarriela noted.</p><p>“Xiang Yang Hong 10 entered the EEZ of the Philippines last July 25 and loitered in BDM for a number of days. We are not really aware of the activities of Xiang Yang Hong,” he added.</p><p>As the BRP Teresa Magbanua returned to Manila, the PCG deployed the BRP Cape San Agustin to continue patrols in the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc.</p><p>On Friday morning, the PCG vessel issued a radio challenge to the CCG 3306, which was spotted 58 nautical miles off Capones Island in Zambales—still far from Manila Bay.</p><p>The same vessel used a water cannon against the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ (BFAR) BRP Datu Bangkaya last Monday. It did not hit the target ship.</p><p>Meanwhile, another CCG vessel with bow number 4305 unleashed relentless water cannon blasts on the BRP Datu Sumkad in a sustained 40-minute attack.</p><p>Fortunately, no crew members were injured.</p><p>The two BFAR vessels were conducting routine maritime patrols near Bajo de Masinloc when the incident occurred.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/15/chinese-coast-guard-ship-seen-near-manila-bay-tailing-pcg-vessel-bound-for-bajo-de-masinloc-1215"><strong>Chinese coast guard ship spotted near Manila Bay, seen tailing PCG vessel bound for Bajo de Masinloc</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CONTAINMENT AND SHOW OF FORCE</strong></div><p>According to security analyst Dr. Chester Cabalza, China is demonstrating force and asserting continued control over the shoal.</p><p>This comes despite the collision of its CCG and PLA Navy vessels.</p><p>“China is doing containment pa rin dahil nga napahiya sila noong nakaraan sa clash ng dalawang barko nila. They’re showing to the world na malakas pa rin sila,” Cabalza told reporters in a phone interview.</p><p>He went on, “Pati yung kanilang area projection, pinapalakas nila dahil gusto nilang bumawi doon sa nakaraang araw.”</p><p>“The more we will see anxiety, not only in the West Philippine Sea, but in the islands and territories of the Philippines, kasi nga napahiya sila,” he further said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘NO NEED FOR AFP TO TAKE LEAD YET IN BDM OPS’</strong></div><p>Despite China’s continued harassment, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año emphasized that the government will continue to defend the country’s sovereignty and sovereign rights over Bajo de Masinloc and the entire West Philippine Sea.</p><p>He added there is still no need for the military to take the lead in operations in the shoal.</p><p>“Ayaw nating pagsimula ng escalation. We treat the area as a law enforcement function ng BFAR at PCG, so patuloy nating gagawin yun. Yung ating AFP ay ready to support our law enforcement agencies if needed,” Año said.</p><p>“As of now, we remain calm,” he added.</p><p>According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the incident happened while the China Coast Guard vessels were blocking and dispelling multiple Philippine Coast Guard vessels that &quot;illegally intruded the territorial waters of China&#x27;s Huangyan Dao&quot;.</p><p>It also reiterated its call to the Philippines to &quot;stop its infringements and provocations immediately.&quot; </p>

<p>The two Chinese vessels that collided while pursuing the BRP Suluan near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal last Monday are already headed back to mainland China, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday.</p>

The two Chinese vessels that collided while pursuing the BRP Suluan near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal last Monday are already headed back to mainland China, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard said on Friday.

PCG: 2 Chinese vessels involved in collision bound for mainland

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PCG: 2 Chinese vessels involved in collision bound for mainland

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 15, 2025 07:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Coast Guard

China Coast Guard

collision

Bajo de Masinloc

Scarborough Shoal

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