Chinese coast guard ship CCG-21585 rams Philippine fisheries vessel off Palawan

Collision off Palawan

On the morning of 18 September 2026, a China Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine government ship in disputed waters of the South China Sea. The collision occurred approximately 54 nautical miles (100 kilometres) off the coast of Palawan province, near a shoal in the Spratly Islands archipelago. The affected vessel, the BRP Datu Magat Salamat, belongs to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and was conducting a maritime patrol to distribute subsidised fuel to Filipino fishermen. Philippine maritime authorities reported that China Coast Guard ship CCG-21585 initially crossed the stern of the Philippine vessel at 11:04 local time, maintaining a distance of about 10 metres (33 feet). At 11:13, the Chinese ship repeated the manoeuvre and struck the starboard side of the BRP Datu Magat Salamat. The impact deformed railings and damaged exterior deck structures, scattering debris across the vessel, though no crew injuries were reported.

Disputed accounts from Manila and Beijing

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela distributed video recordings of the incident on social media platform X, showing the Chinese cutter approaching the stern while a crew member shouted that a collision was imminent. Tarriela stated that the Chinese vessel carried out deliberate manoeuvres that endangered government personnel on a civilian assistance mission within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

“No amount of ramming or dangerous maneuvering will change the fact that these waters belong to the Filipino people.”

Chinese authorities rejected Manila's description of the event, asserting that the Philippine vessel bore full responsibility for the collision. China Coast Guard spokesperson Jiang Lue stated that the Philippine crew ignored repeated warnings, altered course deliberately, and accelerated ahead of the bow of the Chinese ship.

“The actions of the Philippine side have seriously violated international law, threatening the safety of Chinese coast guard vessels and personnel.”

Sequence of maritime friction

The collision off Palawan is part of a series of maritime standoffs between Manila and Beijing over overlapping territorial claims. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, rejecting a 2016 international tribunal ruling that declared its expansive maritime claims to have no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other regional states continue to contest Beijing's assertions under international maritime law.

Diplomatic friction between the two governments escalated in June 2026, when Beijing barred Philippine National Defence Minister Gilberto Teodoro from entering China. Teodoro responded by pledging continued protection of Philippine territory in the surrounding seas. Tensions escalated further in July 2026 as Manila hosted the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. During that month, Philippine authorities accused Chinese forces of firing water cannons at government vessels near Scarborough Shoal and striking a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton. Chinese National Defence Minister Dong Jun subsequently urged regional nations to halt provocative actions in the waterway, while the United States government criticised Chinese military activities and protected-area designations in contested sectors.