China vessel rams and damages Philippine fishing boat, coast guard says

A China Coast Guard vessel rammed a Philippine fishing boat during a resupply mission in the South China Sea on Friday, the Philippines Coast Guard said. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship BRP Datu Magat Salamat was about 54 nautical miles off Palawan delivering fuel assistance to Filipino fishermen when the China Coast Guard carried out “dangerous manoeuvres” and made contact. The Philippines said the collision deliberately struck a civilian government vessel on a humanitarian and livelihood mission. It reported damage to the starboard-side railings and deck structures, with debris scattered across the deck. The Chinese embassy did not immediately comment.