5 days ago
PCG to assess environmental damage after Chinese vessel ran aground Pagasa Reef 1
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday said the agency is preparing to conduct an environmental damage assessment on Pagasa Reef 1 after a Chinese vessel recently ran aground in the area.
PCG spokesperson for West Philippine Sea (WPS) Commodore Jay Tarriela said the agency is committed to safeguarding the country's maritime interests and ensuring the protection of its marine environment.
'At present, the PCG, in collaboration with other relevant organizations, is preparing to carry out an environmental damage assessment on the reef caused by the unlawful presence of the Chinese maritime militia in the Philippines' territorial waters,' Tarriela said in a statement.
'The goal of this assessment is to evaluate any potential ecological impacts resulting from this situation,' he added.
Philippine Coast Guard Monitors Grounding of Suspected Chinese Maritime Militia Vessel at Pagasa Reef-1
Last Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) observed a suspected Chinese Maritime Militia vessel, identified by bow number 16838, that ran aground at Pagasa Reef 1,… — Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) June 9, 2025
Tarriela said that on Saturday, the PCG monitored a suspected Chinese maritime militia vessel with bow number 16838 that ran aground at Pagasa Reef 1, which is around one nautical mile from Pagasa Island.
The Chinese vessel was likely driven into the shallow area due to adverse sea conditions with two to three meters of waves as well as strong winds.
To prevent more damage to the coral reef and territorial waters, Tarriela said PCG personnel stationed at Pagasa Island reached out to the grounded vessel to help.
'Unfortunately, the vessel did not respond to the PCG's inquiries. After approximately three hours, the vessel was able to free itself without external assistance,' Tarriela said.
He added that a China Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number 5102 contacted the Chinese maritime militia vessel during the incident.
However, the CCG ship did not approach the area to avoid risk of grounding in the shallow waters, according to Tarriela
Pagasa Island is around 285 nautical miles from Palawan.
Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.
The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis."
China has refused to recognize the decision. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
