The Philippine Coast Guard accused Chinese vessels of blocking an inter-agency law enforcement operation against suspected dynamite fishers near Pag-asa Island on October 4, 2026. The confrontation in the West Philippine Sea involved horn-sounding, shadowing, and a Chinese navy helicopter circling overhead.
An inter-agency maritime law enforcement team departed from the sheltered port of Pag-asa Island at 0950H on October 4, 2026, responding to reports of destructive blast fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3. The mission brought together personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Navy including Marines, and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group under the guidance of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, as reported by GMA Network.
The operation marked an active deployment for the newly established Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group under Commodore Gesulgon. Within minutes of clearing port, the Philippine vessels encountered direct opposition from Beijing’s maritime forces operating inside the territorial sea of Pag-asa Island.
Chinese Vessels Intercept Patrol Near Sandy Cay
As the inter-agency team approached a foreign fishing vessel about 500 meters east-southeast of Sandy Cay 2 at approximately 1000H, two China Coast Guard vessels moved directly into their path. According to GMA Network, CCG vessels 5102 and 21581 sounded their horns and issued radio challenges to the Philippine team.
The small boats suspected of conducting the blasting had already retreated to their mother vessel by the time law enforcement arrived. When the Philippine team ordered the foreign vessel to stop, the crew ignored the commands and sailed southwest toward Zamora Reef, also known as Subi Reef, one of seven artificial islands built by China in the Spratlys.
During the pursuit, CCG 21581 actively shadowed and blocked the Philippine boats, closing to within about 10 yards of the high-speed response boat HSRB-019. Minutes later at 1013H, a People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter with tail number 09 circled overhead four times.
“unnecessary act of intimidation.”
Philippine Coast Guard, via GMA Network and Devdiscourse
Enforcement Halted Near Sandy Cay 5
Dynamite fishing shatters coral reef structures and depletes local fish populations that support communities in the Kalayaan Island Group, making it a prohibited practice under the Philippine Fisheries Code. Authorities emphasized that Sunday’s deployment was a routine law enforcement initiative aimed at protecting marine biodiversity rather than a provocation directed at any specific nation.
For safety reasons, the inter-agency team broke off its pursuit about 1.2 nautical miles east-southeast of Sandy Cay 5 at 1023H.
All personnel returned safely to Pag-asa Island by 1048H, leaving the targeted foreign vessel free to reach Subi Reef.
The Coast Guard stated that by obstructing law enforcement vessels, the China Coast Guard failed to protect the marine environment and instead facilitated the escape of a suspected violator. Officials confirmed that the complete documentation of the incident will be transmitted through the Department of Foreign Affairs for appropriate action.