China Coast Guard Vessel Rams Philippine BFAR Ship Off Palawan; PCG Calls It 'Intentional Ramming'

China Coast Guard vessel CCG-21585 rammed the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship BRP Datu Magat Salamat on September 18, 2026, roughly 6.36 nautical miles north-northwest of Abad Santos Shoal and about 54 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan, within the Philippine exclusive economic zone. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, CCG-21585 first cut across the BFAR vessel's stern at a distance of about 10 meters at 11:04 a.m.; nine minutes later, at 11:13 a.m., it repeated the maneuver while the Datu Magat Salamat held its course and made contact, striking the vessel's starboard side before passing dangerously close astern at roughly 5 meters. The collision bent, broke or detached the BFAR vessel's main railings, deformed metal stanchions and support structures, and displaced deck fixtures and equipment. PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, called it a case of 'intentional ramming.' No injuries were reported among the mixed PCG-BFAR crew; the vessel was returning to Coron for a sea-worthiness assessment. China Coast Guard disputed the account, saying the Philippine vessel 'disregarded repeated solemn warnings, deliberately altered its course and suddenly accelerated to cut across the bow of our vessel.' The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea condemned the ramming as reckless and a violation of international maritime law, urging China to cease dangerous activities that threaten lives at sea. The incident came a day after the same BFAR vessel was refloated following a self-inflicted grounding at Hasa-Hasa (Half Moon) Shoal while on the same fuel subsidy mission to Filipino fishermen.