China’s maritime police department has publicly stated that a Philippine vessel deliberately collided with a Chinese coast guard craft patrolling the Spratly Islands area in the South China Sea. The claim surfaced through a management statement reported by TASS, which cited the official channel as its source.
According to the PRC’s maritime police, the incident occurred on the morning of December 10 when a quartet of Philippine vessels allegedly crossed into waters near Renai Reef within the Spratly Islands zone. The Chinese side described this as an illegal incursion into a contested maritime area, a claim that has been a recurring theme in the broader South China Sea dispute. The coast guard asserted that it took lawful measures in response to the intrusion, aligning with international maritime regulations and its duty to safeguard navigational safety in the region. The agency characterized the encounter as a provocative move that warranted a measured, policy-backed response. Attribution: source statements from the Chinese coast guard via TASS.
The maritime police spokespersons from China said that the Philippine ship Unaizah Mae 1 did not heed repeated warnings and violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. They described a sharp, unprofessional turn that culminated in a deliberate collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel. The report claimed that the collision caused damage to the Chinese side and presented the incident as evidence of dangerous conduct by the Philippine ship. The description emphasizes the seriousness of the alleged breach of maritime conduct rules and frames the event within ongoing sovereignty debates over the Spratly Islands. Attribution: management statement cited by TASS.
News releases from Manila in the interim period characterized the event as part of a broader pattern of tension around the Spratly Islands. It was noted that the waters adjacent to Renai Reef are among several flashpoints where Filipino and Chinese authorities have faced repeated clashes, inspections, and claims of infringement. The Philippine side has consistently asserted its right to patrol in areas it regards as part of its exclusive economic zone and claimed that its vessels were operating within lawful limits. These narratives illustrate how the same set of events can be interpreted through different legal and strategic lenses, contributing to a broader, longstanding diplomatic friction between Manila and Beijing. Attribution: official Philippine statements and regional reporting.
In a separate but related sequence, the Philippine government reported that Chinese forces had used water cannons against Philippine ships near Scarborough Reef, or Huangyan Island, in what Manila described as aggressive acts in the disputed zone. The incident added to a list of recent confrontations that have included mentions of maritime militia presence and other coercive measures. Analysts often view such episodes through the dual prisms of sovereignty assertion and freedom of navigation principles, underscoring the fragility of stability in this portion of the South China Sea. Attribution: Philippine government briefings and regional summaries.
Earlier that month, official Philippine channels disclosed that more than 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels were observed in the area around Whitsun Reef, a claim associated with ongoing disputes over Julian Felipe Reef and nearby features. Philippine authorities indicated that a sizable deployment of Chinese vessels accompanied repeated patrols by Philippine boats designed to monitor assertive activity in the zone. The exchange of patrols and counterclaims has continued to shape the security environment in the region, prompting calls for restraint and adherence to lawful norms from multiple international observers. Attribution: Philippine maritime services announcements and regional coverage.
Past statements from Manila also referenced allegations of other high-intensity tactics, including the use of non-lethal weapons in the pool of disputes that characterize the South China Sea. These disclosures reflect a broader narrative about strategy, deterrence, and the management of maritime competition in a region marked by overlapping claims. Analysts suggest that the pattern of incidents—ranging from water cannon use to alleged collisions and militia deployments—points to a persistent topography of risk around contested reefs. Attribution: aggregated security analyses and public briefings.