A Chinese militia boat purposely hit a Philippine Fisheries boat last Friday near Pag-asa Island, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said.
BFAR explained that two of its boats, BRP Datu Cabaylo and BRP Datu Sanday, were on a normal patrol about five miles from Pag-asa Island when the Chinese boat started acting dangerously. The Chinese vessel tried to block their path and even bumped into the Philippine boat.
Videos taken by BFAR crew showed the Chinese boat scraping the side of the BRP Datu Cabaylo, leaving some dents on the boat’s bow. Even after the collision, the Philippine boats finished their patrol and returned safely to Pag-asa Sheltered Port.
Despite the crash, BFAR praised the crew for continuing their duty to protect the Philippines’ waters and resources. Just days earlier, these same BFAR boats had been sprayed with water cannons by Chinese vessels but still managed to deliver supplies to Filipino boats in the area.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions over territorial waters in the region.
