A Chinese coast guard vessel has rammed a Philippine government ship after firing a water cannon near Thitu Island, also known locally as Pag-asa, in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday.

According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the incident involved the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, part of a government fisheries support fleet assisting local fishermen near the island.

The Chinese ship, identified by bow number 21559, reportedly first fired a high-pressure water cannon directly at the Filipino vessel before deliberately ramming its stern three minutes later. The Datu Pagbuaya sustained minor structural damage, but all crew members were reported safe.

Video footage released by the coast guard showed the Chinese vessel firing water cannon that struck the Datu Pagbuaya and its two national flags. The Filipino crew was seen manoeuvring away to avoid further impact.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, the coast guard spokesperson, described the Chinese ship’s actions as dangerous and provocative. Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan was quoted as saying that such acts of harassment only strengthened the determination of Filipino fishermen who depend on the surrounding waters for their livelihood.

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,… pic.twitter.com/okA55L9oWs

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) October 12, 2025

Thitu Island is the largest of the nine features occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly Islands and hosts both a local fishing community and a small military presence. The island lies just over 20 kilometres from Subi Reef, one of several reefs transformed by China into fortified bases equipped with runways and missile systems.

The Chinese Coast Guard accused Manila of being fully responsible for the collision. A spokesperson for the force, Liu Dejun, said that two Philippine vessels had “illegally entered” the waters near Sandy Cay without permission and had “dangerously approached” a Chinese vessel conducting what he described as lawful enforcement operations. He said the Chinese side had issued stern warnings and lawfully expelled the Philippine vessels.

Manila, however, maintained that its ships were operating within the country’s exclusive economic zone and accused Beijing of deliberate aggression. Philippine authorities called the encounter a “clear threat” and reiterated that the nation would not yield its territorial rights.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have surged this year, particularly near the Scarborough Shoal and other contested areas. Similar confrontations have occurred repeatedly, often involving water cannon attacks or dangerous manoeuvres by Chinese vessels.

The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most contested waterways, carrying over $3 trillion in annual global trade. China claims almost the entire sea, overlapping with maritime zones claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Indonesia.

References: Bloomberg, Firstpost