A China Coast Guard vessel on Friday struck a Philippine boat on a resupply mission in the South China Sea, damaging railings and deck structures, the Philippine Coast Guard said. No injuries were reported.

The BRP Datu Magat Salamat, operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, was distributing fuel to Filipino fishermen about 54 nautical miles off Palawan when Manila accused the Chinese vessel of dangerous manoeuvres and of deliberately ramming a civilian government boat on a humanitarian and livelihood mission.

Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows crew members shouting to brace for impact shortly before the collision, timed at 11:13 local time. Photographs taken afterwards show bent or detached railings, damaged metal supports and debris on deck.

The China Coast Guard offered the opposite account. It said it had carried out law-enforcement operations near Sabina Shoal after the Philippine vessel “disregarded repeated solemn warnings, deliberately altered its course and suddenly accelerated” to cut across the Chinese bow. Beijing placed the blame on the Philippine side.

Rappler identified the Chinese ship as CCG-21585 and placed the incident near Abad Santos (Bombay) Shoal, inside the exclusive economic zone claimed by Manila. Spokesman Jay Tarriela called it “intentional ramming”; the mission was cut short and the boat was heading back to Coron to check whether it was still seaworthy.

The South China Sea carries major trade routes and includes areas claimed by several states. In July Manila accused Beijing of using water cannon near Scarborough Shoal and of striking a Philippine Navy sailor with a wooden baton during an encounter at Second Thomas Shoal.

Intent remains contested until there is an independent finding. The headline describes the reported contact; the allegation of a deliberate ram belongs to Philippine authorities, and China rejects it.

Image: BRP Magat Salamat / Ensign Herlijk F. Gregorio, Philippine Navy / Wikimedia Commons, public domain. The ship in port, not Friday’s collision. Cropped to 16:9.

Source consulted: China vessel rams and damages Philippine boat on refueling mission, coast guard says | Reuters; Philippine Coast Guard.