After a collision with a China ship, a vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard sustained “minor damage”
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD – The maritime law enforcement agency reported that one of its vessels sustained damage after purportedly encountering obstruction from Chinese ships during a resupply mission on Friday morning.
According to PCG spokesperson Cmdr. Jay Tarriela, the coast guard dispatched BRP Cabra and BRP Sindangan to assist in the military’s troop rotation and provisioning. He noted that during the operation, the PCG vessels encountered perilous maneuvers and obstruction from Chinese Coast Guard vessels and the Chinese Maritime Militia, resulting in a collision between MRRV-4407 and China Coast Guard 21555, causing minor structural damage to the PCG vessel.
Tarriela mentioned in a tweet that the mission was ongoing as of 10 a.m. Earlier in the day, the military announced plans to deliver supplies to troops stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, with support from two civilian-contracted vessels and Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard ships. China asserts territorial claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas close to neighboring countries’ shores, disregarding an international tribunal’s ruling that these claims lack legal basis. Manila refers to the waters west of the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated on Monday that the Philippines would pursue dialogue and diplomacy with China to address escalating tensions in the region, but would push back if its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea were disregarded.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is a maritime law enforcement agency responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and protection of the Philippines’ maritime interests and resources. It operates under the Department of Transportation and is tasked with enforcing maritime laws, conducting search and rescue operations, safeguarding the marine environment, and promoting maritime safety.
The PCG plays a vital role in patrolling Philippine waters, combating maritime threats such as piracy, smuggling, and illegal fishing, and assisting vessels in distress. Additionally, it collaborates with other government agencies and international partners to enhance maritime security and maintain order in Philippine waters.
