A Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel sustained damage, and one crew member was injured after Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships blasted it with water cannons near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
When attacked, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang was on a supply mission with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) but later regrouped with nine other BFAR vessels to continue its fuel and aid delivery to Filipino fishermen.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) vowed to maintain maritime patrols and air surveillance, stressing that China’s claims and coercive actions in the West Philippine Sea have no basis under international law.
A University of the Philippines study warned that destructive activities such as dredging, coral harvesting, and land reclamation threaten regional food security, urging ASEAN nations to push for a binding marine peace park agreement.
Experts cautioned that China’s “gray zone” tactics risk miscalculation, potentially escalating tensions into open conflict.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 17, 2025
