Philippines says fishermen hurt, boat damaged in China coastguard skirmish

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffDecember 14, 2025 at 05:53 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

On December 13, 2025, Chinese coastguard ships allegedly attacked nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats with water cannons near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, an area within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone. The Philippine coastguard reported that three Filipino fishermen sustained injuries and two fishing vessels suffered significant damage due to the high-pressure water blasts. The Chinese vessels also reportedly cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats. The Philippine coastguard condemned the actions, calling on the Chinese coastguard to prioritize safety at sea. Philippine coastguard vessels deployed to assist the fishermen were also reportedly blocked by Chinese ships.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sabina Shoal 60% China ×370% Philippines ×480%

Keywords

south china sea 90% chinese coastguard 80% filipino fishermen 80% philippine coastguard 80% water cannon 70% exclusive economic zone 60% disputed waters 60% sabina shoal 50% maritime incident 50% maritime dispute 40%