Manila reports damage to two coastguard vessels in collision with Chinese ships

Photo released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows damages sustained by BRP Cape Engaño in its collision with a China Coast Guard vessel on 19 August 2024. (Philippine Coast Guard)

Manila's National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) announced on 19 August that two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have been damaged after separate collisions with China Coast Guard (CCG) ships.

These collisions occurred near a South China Sea feature known as Sabina Shoal, which is claimed by both Beijing and Manila as part of their respective maritime territories.

Beijing refers to the feature as Xianbin Jiao while Manila calls it the Escoda Shoal. It is located about 78 n miles northwest off the Philippines' Palawan island and about 750 n miles off mainland China.

Earlier protests

In response to questions from the media during a press conference on 16 August, a spokesperson from the China Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that a Philippine vessel had sailed into the lagoon of Sabina Shoal “without permission”.

“China has protested to the Philippines through diplomatic channels and asked the Philippines to stop its infringement activities and withdraw the vessel at once,” the spokesperson added.

In the wake of this disclosure, the PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela released a statement noting that the vessel, which has since been identified as the 97 m offshore patrol vessel (OPV) BRP Teresa Magbanua , was deployed to protect Manila's waters from illegal poachers and fishing activities.