US Ally Confronts China in Contested Waters

Chinese coast guard ships repeatedly attempted to ram Philippine vessels over the weekend, according to Manila.

The incidents, captured on video, took place west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon, where Chinese ships have maintained a steady presence since early this year in what analysts call a show of force.

Why It Matters

China claims more than 90 percent of the South China Sea under its self-declared ten-dash line, citing vague historical rights that overlap with claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

A 2016 international tribunal sided with the Philippines and rejected Beijing's claims. China has dismissed the ruling as invalid and continues to send its heavily armed coast guard, naval warships, and paramilitary maritime militia hundreds of miles from its coast to enforce its claims.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and Philippine Coast Guard for comment.

What To Know

In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela accused Chinese ship CCG-3302 of "reckless and dangerous maneuvers" on Saturday and Sunday, including multiple attempts to ram the BRP Cabra, a smaller Philippine patrol vessel.

Manila released a video showing the Cabra's crew hailing the Chinese vessel and warning it had no right to patrol within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a country's EEZ extends 200 nautical miles from its coast, granting it special rights to marine resources.

The footage appears to show the Chinese vessel repeatedly chasing the Cabra, maneuvering aggressively with the apparent intent of colliding using its reinforced hull. A second Chinese cutter, CCG-21612, was seen arriving on Sunday and joining the encounter.

"Throughout the afternoon, CCG-3302 made multiple attempts to ram the aft of the BRP Cabra," Tarriela said. "Due to the PCG vessel's superior maneuverability, the China Coast Guard deployed a smaller, faster vessel, CCG-21612, to further attempt to ram the Philippine coast guard vessel."

Tarriela said the Philippines would "continue to shadow and challenge" Chinese patrols, adding that the country's coast guard would "demonstrate unwavering resolve in the face of intimidation."

Beijing has repeatedly accused its neighbor of violating its territory, hyping the South China Sea issue, and being a pawn in U.S. efforts to contain China.

What People Are Saying

Jinggoy Estrada, president pro tempore of the Philippine Senate, was quoted by local media Sunday: "This reckless behavior is deeply concerning and warrants unequivocal condemnation...

"Our government should take decisive action by bringing this matter before the International Maritime Organization. The incident—an attempted head-on collision with the smaller BRP Cabra of the Philippine Coast Guard—was a clear violation of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, to which China is a signatory."

What Happens Next

Tensions are expected to persist as Chinese patrols continue off Luzon and around several contested features within the Philippines' EEZ.

Meanwhile, the Philippines and the United States, which share a seven-decade-old Mutual Defense Treaty, are preparing to kick off their largest annual joint military exercise, Balikatan. Around 15,000 troops, including forces from Japan and Australia, are set to participate.