South China Sea: Philippines calls for ‘restraint’ after ‘deliberate’ Chinese coastguard ramming

The Philippines said its vessel was on a ‘peaceful and lawful’ patrol ‘within its own maritime jurisdiction’, when it was rammed on Saturday

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Philippines and China trade blame over confrontation in South China Sea

Raissa Robles

Published: 4:45pm, 1 Sep 2024Updated: 10:11am, 3 Sep 2024

The collision of a Philippine coastguard vessel with a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship has resulted in conflicting reports from Manila and Beijing, prompting President Ferdinand Marcos, Jnr.’s most senior state official to ask for “restraint” following the alleged “deliberate” and “unprovoked ramming” of BRP Teresa Magbanua.

The National Maritime Council, chaired by the president’s Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, issued a statement saying the Philippine vessel “was deliberately rammed three times”, which endangered lives and caused significant damage.

Bersamin called for the Chinese coastguard “to exercise restraint and prioritise the safety of vessels at sea and aircraft within our airspace.”

He added that despite this, “the Philippines will continue its sovereign operations in its maritime zones,” with the damaged vessel maintaining its operations in the West Philippine Sea, referring to the portion of the South China Sea within and beyond its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

Lucas P. Bersamin issued a statement deploring a Chinese Coast Guard’s “deliberate” ramming of a Philippine coastguard vessel. Photo: X

The incident took place at noon on Saturday in the vicinity of Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, 146 kilometres west of Palawan island and 1,200 kilometres from the Chinese island of Hainan.