DFA Issues Formal Condemnation of CCG Ramming, Invokes UNCLOS/COLREGS/SOLAS; US Ambassador and Canada Join Criticism

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs formalized its condemnation of the September 18 China Coast Guard ramming of the BFAR vessel BRP Datu Magat Salamat, stating in a Facebook post that 'there is no justification for the CCG vessel to undertake aggressive actions against a Philippine civilian law enforcement vessel, and cause damage to the ship and endanger the safety of the civilian crew.' The DFA said the CCG vessel's 'illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous acts are inconsistent with China's obligations under international law,' citing UNCLOS, the 2016 Arbitral Award, the 1972 COLREGS, and the 1974 SOLAS Convention, and called on China to respect Manila's sovereign rights within its EEZ, exercise restraint, and avoid further escalation. US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton posted on X that the United States 'STRONGLY CONDEMN[S] the China Coast Guard's DELIBERATE RAMMING of the Philippine BFAR vessel,' commending the professionalism of Philippine forces. Canada separately issued a statement condemning the incident. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through spokesperson Guo Jiakun, rejected the account, saying an official Philippine vessel 'started provocations and deliberately rammed' the CCG vessel in waters adjacent to Xianbin Jiao (Sabina Shoal), calling on Manila to 'immediately stop its infringement activities at sea and stop spreading false narratives.' CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue separately said the Philippine vessel 'ignored warnings... deliberately changed course and suddenly' caused the collision, placing responsibility on the Philippine side.