Marilyn Cahatol

Article (news)

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday described as an escalation the near-collision incident involving a Philippine Navy warship and a Chinese warship near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said the encounter marked an alarming development since encounters more commonly involve civilian vessels like the coast guard.</p><p>“It has happened in the past, but since it&#x27;s been a while since [we’ve had] warship-to-warship [encounters], this is already an escalation,” Trinidad told reporters in a phone interview.</p><p>In a video released by the AFP Western Command (WESCOM), the Philippine Navy’s BRP Benguet was seen successfully averting a potential collision after a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) Type 054A missile frigate (Hull 532) executed a dangerous maneuver during a maritime operation near Pag-asa Island on Wednesday, March 25.</p><p>“What happened was a coercive and aggressive action conducted by a PLA Navy warship on one of our &#x27;landing ship, tank&#x27;s or LST,” Trinidad said.</p><p>“Number Two, [it was] unprofessional and unsafe. Number Three, there&#x27;s no room for that in a civilized world.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/26/ph-navy-ship-averts-collision-with-chinese-warship-near-pag-asa-2340">PH Navy ship averts collision with Chinese warship near Pag-asa</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>5 TO 8-METER DISTANCE</strong></div><p>According to the official, the Chinese warship came within five to eight meters of the BRP Benguet—an extremely close distance for vessels at sea.</p><p>“That was intentional, not accidental. That was unsafe,” Trinidad stressed.</p><p>He described the maneuver as “nudging,” where the Chinese vessel closed in while moving in the same direction as the Philippine ship.</p><p>“Those actions speak of harassment—speak of ICAD [illegal, coercive, aggressive, deceptive], per se,” Trinidad said.</p><p>“The distance closed—it was not a collision, it was nudging. When we say nudging, you&#x27;re in the same direction, then the distance would close, then you&#x27;ll be hit by the side and you&#x27;ll be nudged,” he explained.</p><p>No damage or injuries were reported after the incident as the PLA-N vessel eventually veered away.</p><div> </div><div><strong>BRP BENGUET’S MEASURED RESPONSE</strong></div><p>According to Trinidad, the crew of the BRP Benguet acted with professionalism and restraint to prevent the situation from worsening.</p><p>They established bridge-to-bridge communication and maneuvered away from the approaching vessel.</p><p>“Number One, it is common knowledge among commanding officers in a professional organization to establish bridge-to-bridge communication to ask for the intention of the other ship,” Trinidad said.</p><p>“Number Two, to state your intention or your direction. Number Three—if the ship is approaching is not listening to you—to slowly change your direction away from the other contact vessel. That is what our commanding officer did,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>PART OF CHINA’S INCREASED PROVOCATION</strong></div><p>The AFP said it had already anticipated such actions, which it considers part of China’s increasing coercive activities in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>“This is part of their increased provocation,” Trinidad noted. “Part of the ICAD is to increase coercive and aggressive actions to be able to justify their presence longer.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/24/navy-explains-why-philippines-won-t-mirror-china-s-actions-1609">No tit-for-tat: Navy explains why Philippines won&#x27;t mirror China&#x27;s actions</a></div><p>The official said that such actions aim to normalize aggressive behavior at sea.</p><p>“This is trying to normalize further their ICAD. We have anticipated this, and we have already informed our commanding officers, our troops on the ground to be very careful not to be provoked. Hence, all their actions are very important, [and should be within] the bounds of law,” he added.</p><div> </div><div><strong>DISCONNECT BETWEEN CHINA’S STATEMENTS AND ACTIONS ON THE GROUND</strong></div><p>When asked whether the incident could affect ongoing discussions on possible joint oil and gas exploration with China, Trinidad deferred the matter to diplomatic channels.</p><p>He, however, underscored the disconnect between Beijing’s statements and its actions on the ground.</p><p>“What is very clear here is, this will blow up in their face. This is an example of talk and take—say one thing, do another thing... There is disconnect. There is dissonance,” Trinidad stressed.</p><p>“If you listen to them talk, you will believe it. But if you look at the actions on the ground, what they are saying is different. So, actions do not lie,” he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/23/china-clearing-ops-at-bajo-de-masinloc-meant-to-intimidate-filipino-fishermen-pcg-1724">China ‘clearing ops’ at Bajo de Masinloc meant to intimidate Filipino fishermen – PCG</a></div><p>Despite the rising tensions, the AFP said it will continue performing its mandate in the West Philippine Sea “understanding that this will escalate, understanding that our actions should be within the bounds of international and domestic law.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5j5xBcL_FyM?si=W3j_S3vtruMjiyDy" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday described as an escalation the near-collision incident involving a Philippine Navy warship and a Chinese warship near Pag-asa Island.</p>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday described as an escalation the near-collision incident involving a Philippine Navy warship and a Chinese warship near Pag-asa Island.

‘Intentional’: AFP says near-collision with Navy ship an escalation by China

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‘Intentional’: AFP says near-collision with Navy ship an escalation by China

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 27, 2026 12:59 PM PHT

Read More:

BRP Benguet

near-collision

People’s Liberation Army Navy

Chinese warship

Philippine Navy

Pag-asa Island

escalation

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