NMC says China Coast Guard placed civilian lives at risk when it rammed BFAR vessel

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The National Maritime Council (NMC) on Saturday said the ramming done by the China Coast Guard (CCG) on a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) placed civilian lives at risk.

"The National Maritime Council (NMC) expresses its serious concern on the 18 September 2026 incident involving the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, BRP Datu Magat Salamat (MMOV 3015), and China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, CCG 21585, as reported by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS)," the NMC said in a statement.

"The NMC is particularly concerned that the illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous actions of the CCG vessel placed the civilian crew of the BFAR vessel at unnecessary risk while carrying out a legitimate livelihood-support mission," it added.

"The NMC underscores that safety of life at sea must always come first. All vessels operating in the area are expected to exercise maximum restraint, professional seamanship, and due regard for applicable international maritime safety rules," the statement read.

"The NMC supports the coordinated response by the NTF-WPS, particularly the Philippine Coast Guard, BFAR and other concerned member agencies, in ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew and the continued delivery of assistance to Filipino fisherfolk," it added.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said CCG vessel 21585 rammed the BRP Datu Magat Salamat while the Philippine vessel was carrying out its maritime patrol and fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fishermen on Friday.

Tarriela said that at 11:04 a.m., the Chinese vessel reportedly cut across the stern of the BFAR vessel at a distance of only about 10 meters.

At 11:13 a.m., while the BRP Datu Magat Salamat was maintaining its course, the Chinese vessel repeated the maneuver and made contact with the BFAR vessel, striking it.

The Philippine vessel sustained damage on its starboard side including the bent, broken, and detached; deformed metal stanchions and support structures deformed; and displaced deck fixtures and equipment displaced, with debris scattered across the deck.

After the collision, CCG-21585 conducted another dangerous maneuver, passing dead astern at a distance of only about five meters, according to Tarriela.

The incident occurred around 6.36 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and about 54 nautical miles from Palawan's coast, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"The Philippines will continue to exercise its sovereign rights and jurisdiction in its exclusive economic zone consistent with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, while pursuing a peaceful and rules-based approach to maritime differences. Our seas are part of our national identity and patrimony," the NMC said.

"We will continue to support our fisherfolk and government personnel who serve the country at sea, and we will remain steadfast in upholding our lawful rights and national interests in our maritime domain with courage, unity and respect for the rule of law," it added.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) meanwhile said there was “no justification” for the CCG's aggressive actions that resulted in a minor collision with a Philippine civilian vessel in WPS on Friday.

"The Philippines calls on China to respect Philippine sovereign rights within its exclusive economic zone in accordance with UNCLOS as affirmed by the 2016 Arbitral Award, exercise restraint and avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the region," the DFA said.

GMA News Online reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment on Friday but it has yet to issue a statement. —KG, GMA News