Philippines says China Coast Guard ‘sideswiped’ vessel

On Wednesday, Manila released a video appearing to show a Chinese coast guard ship blasting water at a Philippines fisheries department vessel.

Separate footage, apparently taken from the Philippine ship, showed its crew shouting “Collision! Collision!” as the Chinese boat crashes into it.

The BBC has not independently verified the footage.

The Philippine coast guard said the Chinese coast guard ship “intentionally sideswiped” the ship and then “launched a second water cannon attack on the same vessel”.

China’s coast guard said in an initial statement that Philippine ships “came dangerously close” and that its crew’s actions had been “in accordance with the law”.

It later accused the Philippines of making “bogus accusations in an attempt to mislead international understanding” and said it had deliberately collided with the Chinese ship.

But MaryKay Carlson, US ambassador to the Philippines, said “we condemn these actions” by China.

In a post on X, external, she said that “unlawful use of water cannons and dangerous manoeuvres disrupted a Philippine maritime operation … putting lives at risk”.