China vessel rams and damages Philippine fishing boat, Coast Guard says
A China Coast Guard vessel reportedly rammed a Philippine fishing boat during a humanitarian mission in the South China Sea. The incident caused structural damage to the Philippine vessel, marking another escalation in regional maritime tensions.
Why it matters
This incident underscores the ongoing geopolitical friction and territorial disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine fishing boat on a resupply mission in the South China Sea on Friday (September 18, 2026), the Philippine Coast Guard said, damaging its railings and deck structures in the latest confrontation between the two countries in disputed waters.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat was on a mission to distribute fuel assistance to Filipino fishermen about 54 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan province when a China Coast Guard vessel carried out a series of dangerous manoeuvres and made contact with the Philippine ship, the Coast Guard said.
“The China Coast Guard deliberately rammed a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission,” it said in a statement.
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