Manila, Philippines — September 19, 2025 — The Philippine government has lodged another diplomatic protest against China following the latest harassment involving Chinese Coast Guard vessels at Bajo de Masinloc.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson Angelica Escalona confirmed that the protest was filed after a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, was attacked with water cannons on September 16 while conducting a Kadiwa initiative in the area. The incident damaged the vessel and left one Filipino crew member injured.
International Support
The confrontation drew widespread concern from the international community. Several allied nations expressed solidarity with the Philippines, including ambassadors from the United States, Japan, European Union, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
These countries urged all parties involved to uphold international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to respect freedom of navigation. They also called for dialogue and restraint to prevent further escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
Ongoing Disputes
The latest incident adds to a series of confrontations between Chinese maritime forces and Philippine vessels in contested waters. The Philippine government has repeatedly asserted its rights over Bajo de Masinloc and the West Philippine Sea, citing UNCLOS and the 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
