A new maritime confrontation unfolded in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) after Philippine and Chinese vessels reportedly figured in a collision in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) on Tuesday morning, Sept. 16, according to the China Coast guard (CCG).

CCG spokesperson Gan Yu said a Philippine ship with bow number “3104” struck a CCG vessel around 10 a.m., prompting them to take “regulatory measures”.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson for WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad said the military was verifying the reported incident but he blasted the People’s Republic of China (PRC) for conducting “illegal” control measures against Philippine vessels.

Trinidad argued that the CCG, Chinese People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), and Chinese maritime militia have no right to implement any regulatory measures against Philippine vessels or personnel within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines as it is beyond their jurisdiction.

“Any control measures instituted by the PLA Navy, the Chinese Coast Guard or the maritime militia within our EEZ are all illegal,” he said.

A WPS monitor said at least three Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ships, two Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, and the government-owned fish carrier M/V Mamalakaya were spotted in the vicinity of the shoal on Tuesday morning.

“The six Philippine Coast Guard ships involved include the 85-meter BRP Gabriella Silang and 44-meter BRP Cabra and BRP Cape San Augustin (which is now returning home following a brief rendezvous with Cabra). They are joined by 30-meter BFAR vessels BRP Datu M.Taradapit and BRP Datu Romapenet, as well as the M/V Mamalakaya fish carrier,” said maritime security analyst Ray Powell, founder and director of SeaLight, a maritime transparency initiative under the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation at Stanford University.

But Gan said the Philippine vessels, numbering around 10, were conducting “illegal activities” within the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao, the Chinese name for Bajo de Masinloc, so the CCG issued warnings via loudspeaker, conducted “route control,” and used water cannons.

At the height of the incident, Gan said Philippine ship 3104 struck a CCG ship.

“The Philippines' deliberate illegal and provocative acts are of an egregious nature, and the full responsibility for the collision rests entirely with the Philippines,” Gan said.

Trinidad refuted the Chinese official’s statement, saying it was Beijing that was known to perform dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the WPS. Last month, two Chinese vessels collided with each other in Bajo de Masinloc while chasing PCG ship.

“Whatever information they bring out to the information domain, it is all part of their shaping operations to justify again their illegal presence and their coercive and aggressive actions,” the admiral said.

In a related development, the PCG confirmed that a Kadiwa initiative was conducted in partnership with the BFAR to bring fuel, ice, and other provisions to 35 Filipino fishing boats operating in the area.

“However, despite the humanitarian goals of this initiative, reports indicate continued harassment from the China Coast Guard towards Filipino fishermen receiving fuel subsidies. Nine Chinese vessels have been reported in the area, engaging in aggressive actions against both fishermen and PCG and BFAR vessels,” PCG spokesperson for WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela said.

Tarriela did not confirm the reported collision when asked by reporters.

Despite this, he said the PCG and BFAR “remain committed to prioritizing the safety of Filipino fishermen.”