Philippines denies responsibility for naval collision near Bajo de Masinloc

The Philippines has denied responsibility for a collision between two Chinese naval vessels near Bajo de Masinloc on August 11, stating that the incident was not caused by Filipino actions.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized that while the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) offered assistance to the damaged CCG vessel after the crash, there was no response from China.

China's Ministry of National Defense accused multiple PCG vessels of illegally intruding into territorial waters and engaging in dangerous maneuvers that escalated tensions in the South China Sea, prompting a warning from China to halt such actions immediately.

Philippine Coast Guard Spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela refuted these claims, asserting that Chinese vessels were responsible for the collision due to reckless behavior and illegal presence within Philippine exclusive economic zone waters.

Tarriela also revealed that the PCG was unable to launch drones during the incident because they suspect China had jammed their signals to prevent documentation of aggressive actions, highlighting concerns over transparency and communication capabilities.