Philippines says fishermen hurt, boat damaged in China coastguard skirmish

The Philippine coastguard claims the vessels it deployed to aid the injured fishermen were also repeatedly blocked.Published On 14 Dec 2025The Philippines has accused Chinese coastguard ships of firing water cannon at Filipino fishermen near a disputed South China Sea shoal, injuring three people and causing “significant damage” to two fishing vessels.On Saturday, the Philippine coastguard (PCG) said that nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats were attacked a day earlier, near an atoll called the Sabina Shoal that falls within the country’s 200km (124-mile) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US, China agree to set up military-to-military channels, Hegseth sayslist 2 of 3China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, enters military servicelist 3 of 3China spat with Japan on Taiwan deepens, reaches UN: What’s it all about?end of listThe fishermen faced high-pressure spray from Chinese water cannon, and Chinese vessels attempted aggressive blocking manoeuvres, according to Manila.It was the latest in a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in the contested waters of the South China Sea, which Beijing claims nearly in its entirety despite an international ruling against the claim.Friday’s incident took place in a fish-rich area about 150km (93 miles) from the Philippine island of Palawan.“As a result of these aggressive actions, three Filipino fishermen sustained physical injuries, including bruises and open wounds,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine coastguard, said in a statement posted on Facebook.“Two [Filipino fishing boats] also suffered significant damage from high-pressure water cannon blasts.”During the incident, a Chinese boat also cut the anchor lines of several Filipino vessels, endangering their crews, according to the Philippine coastguard.“The PCG calls on the Chinese coastguard to adhere to internationally recognised standards of conduct, prioritising the preservation of life at sea over pretensions of law enforcement that jeopardise the lives of innocent fishermen,” it said in a separate statement. PCG Successfully Renders Assistance to Harassed Filipino Fishermen at Escoda Shoal Amid Aggressive Actions by Chinese Vessels The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) today announced the successful deployment of its multi-role response vessels, MRRV-4403 and MRRV-4411, to the vicinity… https://t.co/DW4eXgtjG3 pic.twitter.com/P2QOwRDjbB — Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) December 13, 2025