A China Coast Guard (CCG) ship attempted to block and nearly collided with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel near the coast of Zambales on Sunday afternoon, April 6.
The incident was revealed through a video shared by PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, showing CCG vessel 3302 executing reckless and dangerous maneuvers against the BRP Cabra.
Despite repeated radio challenges from the PCG asserting the illegality of the Chinese vessel’s patrol in the area, the CCG ship approached BRP Cabra at close range, disregarding navigational safety protocols.
Tarriela stressed that the Chinese vessel’s actions raise serious concerns over its compliance with the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) of 1972, to which China is a signatory.
Thanks to the seamanship and professionalism of BRP Cabra’s crew, the PCG vessel successfully evaded a potential collision and steered clear of the incident.
The crew of BRP Cabra also managed to drive away the Chinese vessel, which was operating approximately 92 to 96 nautical miles off Capones Island.
This incident underscores the PCG’s continued commitment to defending the Philippines’ maritime interests and resisting the normalization of China’s unlawful activities in the West Philippine Sea.