Chinese coast guard ship rams Philippine vessel

A Chinese coast guard ship collided with a Philippine government vessel in the South China Sea.

The incident occurred about 54 nautical miles off the coast of the island of Palawan, as the vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat was delivering fuel and food to Filipino fishermen.

The Philippine Coast Guard claims that the Chinese ship CCG-21585 deliberately rammed the vessel after several dangerous maneuvers.

As a result, the starboard railings, metal supports, and deck equipment were damaged. There were no injuries.

The Chinese side rejected the account of a deliberate ramming. The Chinese embassy stated that the Philippine vessel ignored warnings, changed course, and itself caused the collision.

The Philippines called the actions of the Chinese ship dangerous and demanded that Beijing exercise restraint.

The United States, Canada, and the European Union also expressed concern over the incident.