The Philippine coast guard reported that on September 18, 2026, an incident occurred between one of the supply ships of this country and a Chinese coast guard vessel near the disputed Spratly Islands. This incident took place approximately 54 nautical miles from Palawan province and just over 6 nautical miles from Sabina Reef.
Details of the incident and damages
The BRP Datu Magat Salamat, belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was on routine missions to supply fuel and food for fishermen when it temporarily collided with a reef near the Spratly Islands due to low tide. In this incident, the Philippine ship suffered damages to its deck railings, but no injuries to its crew have been reported.
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The Philippine coast guard stated that during the rescue operation, a Chinese coast guard aircraft also posed challenges to them. In this context, three Chinese coast guard ships and a destroyer from the People's Liberation Army Navy were observed near another supply ship named Mamalaya, which was servicing 35 fishing boats.
Reactions and tensions
Following this incident, Philippine coast guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela deemed China's actions a blatant violation of maritime safety laws and international rulings. He emphasized that no maneuver could change the reality of Philippine ownership of these waters.
In response to this incident, the Chinese coast guard claimed that the Philippine ship was fully responsible for the incident and raised accusations of violating international laws against it. Additionally, tensions in the region have escalated following several recent incidents, including China's use of water cannons and attacks on Philippine crew members with sticks.
In this regard, Taiwan, which has not had diplomatic relations with the Philippines since 1975, announced that it is supporting the Philippines and intends to donate one of its retired coast guard ships to the Philippines. This action reflects growing concerns over China's expanding influence in the region.
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