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China’s coast guard attacked Filipino fishermen injured them and damaged their boats
Philippine authorities said the clash occurred on Friday, 12. October 2025 near Sabina Shoal, where nearly two dozen Filipino fishing boats were operating. According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Chinese vessels blasted the boats with water cannon, leaving three fishermen hurt and causing “major damage” to at least two vessels. The PCG also reported that China’s ships executed highly dangerous blocking manoeuvres, Reuters reported via News.az.
The coast guard further alleged that a small Chinese vessel cut the anchor lines of several Filipino boats, placing the fishermen in immediate danger.
“The PCG urges the Chinese Coast Guard to follow internationally accepted maritime conduct, placing the protection of human life above any claims of enforcement that endanger innocent fishermen,” the agency said.
China’s embassy in Manila offered no comment, though China’s coast guard claimed it had expelled multiple Philippine vessels and implemented what it called “control measures.”
PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said that China’s statement effectively acknowledged their misconduct. “They openly admitted this harmful action against ordinary Filipino fishermen,” he said.
The PCG added that its ships were repeatedly obstructed as they attempted to reach Sabina Shoal to assist the injured crews. Despite the interference, the coast guard managed to arrive early Saturday, delivering medical aid and supplies.
Sabina Shoal—known as Xianbin Reef in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines—is located roughly 150 kilometers west of Palawan and lies inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
China maintains sweeping claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, a critical trade artery carrying more than $3 trillion annually. These claims overlap with the maritime zones of several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines.
A 2016 ruling by an international arbitration tribunal found Beijing’s expansive claims invalid under international law, a decision China continues to dismiss.
