CCG vessel dangerously blocks PCG ship near Panatag Shoal

A China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel dangerously blocked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Cabra during a patrol near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on April 14, 2025.

The CCG vessel 21612 maneuvered past the port side of the BRP Cabra, increasing its speed and obstructing its navigation route about 67 kilometers west of Panatag.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela stated that this action demonstrates the CCG's non-compliance with international maritime safety regulations and a disregard for safety at sea.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan asserted that international law empowers the BRP Cabra to operate without intimidation, allowing it to challenge the CCG and expose their behavior.

The PCG's patrols align with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Award, and the Philippine Maritime Zones Act.

The BRP Cabra is actively patrolling off the coast of Zambales to thwart attempts by the CCG to illegally patrol within the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Another Chinese research ship, Zhong Shan Da Xue, suspected of marine surveys near Batanes last week, was spotted on April 16, 2025, off the Zambales coast.