China Gets Sobering Message: The Ship It Just Put a Hole in Is Covered by US Mutual Defense Treaty
Editor’s Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; we’re reposting it here in case you missed it.
A Philippine navy ship was left with a gaping hole in its hull after a confrontation with Chinese naval forces.
The incident happened Aug. 19 as vessels from the two countries collided in the contentious South China Sea.
The United States issued a warning after the incident, reminding Beijing that vessels such as the one China left with a pierced hull are covered under a mutual defense treaty.
The collision happened around 3:24 a.m., according to Reuters.
At that time, two Philippine navy ships, the Cape Engano and the Bagacay, were on a resupply mission for the garrison covering Flat Island and Lawak Island.
While moving near the Sabina Shoal, Cape Engano and a Chinese ship collided.
Shortly after the initial impact, the Bagacay was rammed twice by a Chinese Coast Guard ship. According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the hit left a three-foot-wide hole in the side of the vessel.
An auxiliary room was left damaged in the impact on the Bagacay.
Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela posted multiple photographs of the damage to the social media platform X, showing the sizable hole from both outside and within the ship.
Read out statement of ADG Jonathan Malaya:
Statement of the NTFWPS
China Coast Guard Vessels Collide with Philippine Coast Guard Vessels Due to Dangerous and Illegal Maneuvers
This morning, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engaño… pic.twitter.com/hslR4LuoGe
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 19, 2024
The damages inflicted by CCGV 3104 on MRRV-4411 include a hole with a diameter of 1.10 meters located on the starboard quarter, as well as damage to the engine exhaust on the starboard quarter, which has a diameter of 40 centimeters. pic.twitter.com/EydOYkYyDw
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 19, 2024
MRRV-4410 sustained damage in the auxiliary room on the port side near the port auxiliary engine, where a hole measuring 2.5 feet in length and 3 feet in width was inflicted by CCGV 21551. Additionally, on the starboard quarter, CCGV 21551 rammed the vessel again, resulting in… pic.twitter.com/P2wVjSO2tv
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 19, 2024
This is not the first time China and the Philippines have scrapped over territory and water in the South China Sea.
In June the Chinese Coast Guard temporarily seized Philippine resupply boats near the Second Thomas Shoal, stripping the vessels of equipment before retreating.
China has also been hardening security on natural bits of land in the South China Sea and other area near to its coast, adding anti-ship missiles and other measures.
Beijing is painting the most recent confrontation as the result of Philippine aggression and recklessness, releasing a video claiming to show a Philippine ship “deliberately ramming” one of the Chinese vessels, Reuters reported.
Regardless of who is at fault, the United States is using the heated confrontation to remind Beijing of American obligations in the Pacific.
“These actions are the latest examples of the [People’s Republic of China] using dangerous and escalatory measures to enforce its expansive and unlawful South China Sea maritime claims,” the U.S. State Department said in an Aug. 19 news released. “The United States calls upon the PRC to abide by international law and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct.”
“The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the South China Sea.”
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