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Chinese ship in BdM out to ram PH vessel - Brawner

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
August 12, 2025, 4:36 pm

MANILA -- One of the Chinese ships in Bajo de Masinloc on Monday was out to ram the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Tuesday.

In an interview with reporters in Camp Crame, Brawner said this only highlights the "aggressive tactics" being used by China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"Ang assessment natin doon ay 'yung PLAN ship ay talagang ang pakay niya, ang objective niya, ay i-ram yung ating Philippine Coast Guard [vessel]. 'Yun rin ang assessment ng ating PCG (We assess that the PLAN ship's real objective was to ram the PCG ship. That is also the assessment of the PCG)," Brawner said.

The PCG vessel, BRP Suluan (MRRV-4406), was accompanying a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel to Bajo de Masinloc to distribute aid to local fishermen when it was chased by PLAN ship 164 and China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 3104.

Brawner said BRP Suluan was able to evade the pursuing Chinese vessels, which eventually collided with one another.

"Sinasabi nila na tayo daw ang nanggugulo doon sa WPS, pero kitang-kita natin kahapon doon sa nangyari na sila mismo ang nanggugulo (They claim that we are the ones causing trouble in the WPS, but yesterday's incident shows they are the ones creating trouble), because they continue to claim Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal as their own territory," he said.

He stressed that the Philippines' claim over Bajo de Masinloc is supported by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling that explicitly states that China's so-called "nine-dash line" is without basis.

"So hindi nila pwedeng angkinin ang Bajo de Masinloc (they cannot claim Bajo de Masinloc)," Brawner said.

Meanwhile, following Monday's incident in Bajo de Masinloc, the AFP reaffirmed its commitment to defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"The AFP reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protect the country's sovereignty, sovereign rights, and territorial integrity, following the most recent incident involving Chinese vessels and the Philippine Coast Guard near Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea," the AFP said in a statement late Monday night.

The AFP added that while it does not seek war with China, it "will continue to perform its sworn duty to uphold and defend our national interests, despite persistent external challenges."

"The call to defend the motherland is not one of aggression, but of patriotic obligation," the AFP said. (with a report from Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)