Chinese Embassy says PH vessel caused collision with China Coast Guard ship

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 20, 2026

Photo courtesy: Chinese Embassy Manila | Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — The Chinese Embassy in Manila said a Philippine government vessel caused the September 18 collision with a China Coast Guard ship, disputing the Philippine Coast Guard’s account of the incident off Palawan.

Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei said the Philippine vessel carried out what he described as an “unprofessional maneuver” before the collision.

“Regarding the incident that occurred this morning at China’s Xianbin Jiao in Nansha Qundao, who exactly is provoking and who is hyping it up?” Guo said.

“It is clearly the Philippine vessel that carried out an unprofessional maneuver, deliberately crossing in front of the Chinese vessel and causing the collision,” he added.

China refers to the area as Xianbin Jiao. The feature is also known as Escoda or Sabina Shoal and is located in the Spratly Islands.

The China Coast Guard separately said Philippine vessel No. 3015 ignored repeated warnings before changing course and accelerating across the bow of the Chinese vessel Sanzhou’ao.

CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue maintained that the Chinese vessel was conducting what Beijing described as rights-protection and law-enforcement operations in waters near Xianbin Jiao when the collision occurred. He said the Chinese vessel operated in a “professional, standardized, reasonable, and lawful” manner.

China’s Foreign Ministry also maintained that the Philippine vessel initiated the encounter and called on Manila to stop what Beijing described as provocative activities at sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard has disputed China’s account.

PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 carried out close maneuvers around the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources’ BRP Datu Magat Salamat while the Philippine ship was conducting a maritime patrol and fuel subsidy mission for Filipino fisherfolk.

According to the PCG, the Chinese vessel passed about 10 meters behind the BFAR ship at around 11:04 a.m. At approximately 11:13 AM, CCG-21585 again maneuvered near the Philippine vessel and made contact with it while BRP Datu Magat Salamat was maintaining its course.

The incident occurred about 54 nautical miles off Palawan. The collision damaged railings, metal support structures and deck fixtures on the BFAR vessel, while no injuries were reported.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said the BFAR vessel was conducting a lawful mission supporting Filipino fisherfolk within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and called on China to respect Philippine sovereign rights and exercise restraint.

Manila and Beijing continue to give conflicting accounts of how the September 18 collision occurred, with both sides maintaining that the other vessel’s maneuver led to the incident.