The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, Aug. 11, urged China to exercise greater care in its maritime operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following Beijing’s confirmation that two of its coast guard personnel died in a collision of its own vessels while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) last year.

Retired admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for WPS, said the loss of life underscored the need for all seafaring nations to follow established maritime rules and international law.

“In the conduct of AFP operations, mission accomplishment and safety of the men and women involved are always paramount,” Trinidad said.

“It is for these reasons that all our actions have to be professional, have to be within established protocols, and backed up by international law,” he added.

Exactly one year ago, a China Coast Guard (CCG) cutter "Nanyu" with bow number "3104" collided with a People's Liberation Army - Navy (PLA-N) Type 052D destroyer with tail number "164" near Bajo de Masinloc on Aug. 11, 2025.

China recently confirmed that two of its coast guard personnel died in the incident, identified by Chinese state media Yi Xinyu, 21, and Cheng Long, 25, who were reportedly aboard the CCG cutter when it collided with the PLA-N destroyer while maneuvering to pursue PCG vessel BRP Suluan near Bajo de Masinloc, a disputed shoal.

Beijing had not previously acknowledged any deaths from the collision until the two officers were posthumously honored with the “Loyal Guards of the Chinese People’s Armed Police” award and first-class merit citations last week.

China described the two personnel as “martyrs” who died while carrying out “rights defense operation” in the South China Sea.

Asked how the AFP viewed that characterization, Trinidad again stressed the need for caution and adherence to maritime rules.

“It is for these reasons that to prevent any untoward loss of life at sea, all our actions by any nation, any seafaring nation, will have to be professional, will have to be within the bounds of established protocols, such as the rules of the road, COLREGs and other established protocols, and backed up by international law,” he said.

COLREGs, or the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, set navigation and conduct rules intended to prevent vessels from colliding.

“We reiterate that unsafe and unprofessional maneuvers at sea increase the risk of accidents and endanger lives,” he said.

“Again, it is for this reason that we maintain that all our actions have to be professional,” he added.

Manila has repeatedly accused Chinese vessels of using dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships and boats conducting missions in the WPS.

Meanwhile, the AFP also revealed that China has not yet responded to the former’s demands for compensation in relation to a violent confrontation near Ayunin (Second Thomas) Shoal on June 17, 2024, which left a Filipino sailor’s thumb dismembered.

“I think there is no compensation coming from China from that particular event,” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.

The AFP had sought P60 million in damages from China over the June 17, 2024 confrontation near Ayungin Shoal involving Filipino soldiers and China Coast Guard personnel.

Then military chief Romeo Brawner said the AFP had asked the Department of National Defense (DND) to relay its demands to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for discussions with China for their demands.

These included the return of seven firearms allegedly taken by CCG personnel when they boarded an AFP vessel, P60 million payment for damage to two Philippine rubber boats and other equipment, and possible reimbursement of medical and surgical expenses for Seaman First Class Jeffrey Facundo, who lost his thumb during the incident.

“As to the compensation for the equipment and the damage done to our assets, I think it was the Armed Forces of the Philippines that submitted this particular requirement and, again, it seems that there is still no response,” the military’s public affairs office chief said.