Read the original article in Vietnamese here.
According to the Philippine National Maritime Council and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on December 12, 2025, around 20 small-scale Philippine fishing boats “peacefully” fishing within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), about 70 nautical miles from Palawan, were approached, harassed, and attacked with high-pressure water cannons by multiple China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels and maritime militia forces. Some Chinese vessels even cut the anchor lines of several Philippine fishing boats, causing them to drift in difficult sea conditions. As a result, three Philippines fishermen were physically injured and two fishing boats were damaged.
In response to the reported incident, the Philippine government deployed two PCG vessels, BRP Malapascua and BRP Cape Engaño, to Sabina Shoal to protect fishermen, provide medical assistance, and deliver essential supplies. However, during their operations, the Philippine vessels continued to be subjected to China’s “dangerous maneuvers” and “close-range approaches”, creating high-risk situations at nighttime that seriously threatened human lives at sea.
In an official statement on December 15, 2025, the Philippine National Maritime Council expressed alarm while affirming that Filipino fishermen's activities were lawful, peaceful, and entirely within the country's EEZ under international law. The Philippines also rejected arguments from the CCG, stating that dangerous maneuvers by Chinese vessels and the use of water cannons causing injuries to civilian fishermen were unjustifiable. The Philippines declared it would pursue appropriate diplomatic measures, demanding that China cease “aggressive actions”.
The incident has drawn responses from the US and some allies/partners. US Department of State Principal Deputy Spokesperson Thomas Pigott said China’s " aggressive actions” endangered Philippines people fishing for their livelihoods. Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman stated that Canada is "seriously concerned by the CCG’s aggressive actions against Philippines civilian fishing vessels near Sabina Shoal."
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CCG accused the Philippines of “assembling” a large number of vessels “in an organised and premeditated manner to provoke trouble” at Sabina Shoal. Furthermore, China said Philippine vessels “repeatedly carried out dangerous manoeuvres” and Philippine personnel threatened Chinese coastguard officers with knives, affirming the measures employed by CCG forces were “reasonable, lawful, professional and restrained and beyond reproach” to protect its claimed areas. China also rebutted the US statement, criticizing the US for inciting confrontation and asserting that the US has no right to interfere in South China Sea disputes.
The Sabina Shoal incident demonstrates the trend of escalating tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. China is increasingly using paramilitary forces to impose de facto control on the ground without crossing the threshold into armed conflict. The targeting of civilian fishermen in coercive actions by Chinese law enforcement is heightening humanitarian risks and the danger of unintended incidents.
Follow-up diplomatic responses from other countries also show that the South China Sea issue continues to be a flashpoint for sovereignty disputes as well as strategic competition. Additionally, the Philippines continues to leverage international legal instruments and transparency strategy to protect its sovereignty and maritime interests.
However, in the absence of goodwill from parties involved, the risk of similar incidents recurring at Sabina Shoal further increasing tensions in the South China Sea is difficult to avoid. This also raises the question of whether China genuinely wants to support compliance with the DOC and maintain the status quo while continuing to push negotiations to achieve a COC with ASEAN by 2026 as stated.
Translated by VNT.
