Water cannon incident in the South China Sea

A China Coast Guard vessel 21559 uses a water cannon against Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Pagbuaya in the South China Sea, in this handout image released by the Philippine Coast Guard on October 12, 2025. Philippine Coast Guard/Handout via REUTERS.

Philippines Says Chinese Ship Rammed Government Vessel At Sea

Bloomberg
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October 12, 2025

By Karl Lester M. Yap

Oct 12, 2025 (Bloomberg) –The Philippines accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming a government vessel in the disputed South China Sea, the latest alleged incident amid maritime tensions between the two nations.

The Philippine vessel suffered structural damage, although its crew were uninjured, Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said Sunday in a post on X. Initially, the Chinese ship had used a water cannon, he said.

The Chinese Coast Guard, meanwhile, said they expelled ships which had entered waters near the Spratly Islands, according to a statement. One ship ignored “stern warnings,” and approached a Chinese vessel that was conducting “normal law-enforcement operations,” spokesperson Liu Dejun said.

PCG and BFAR Stand Firm Against Chinese Bullying and Aggressive Actions in Pag-asa

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have reaffirmed their strong commitment to protecting Filipino fishermen in the Kalayaan Island Group

The South China Sea — bordered by China and a number of Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines — has been a source of geopolitical tensions for decades, with myriad overlapping maritime territorial claims. The contested waters are criss-crossed by vessel routes vital to global commerce, and the seabeds beneath them may contain reserves of oil and gas.

Against that backdrop, vessels from China and the Philippines collided near a disputed shoal in September. Beijing has repeatedly taken measures against Philippine ships that it accuses of entering waters it claims as its own. 

© 2025 Bloomberg L.P.

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