The Philippines has recently accused the Chinese Coast Guard of engaging in "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" in the West Philippine Sea, which resulted in collisions that damaged two Philippine Coast Guard vessels. This incident occurred while the Philippine Coast Guard vessels BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410) and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411) were en route to the Patag and Lawak Islands. The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported that these aggressive maneuvers led to structural damage to both vessels.

In response, the Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu claimed on social media that the Philippine vessels near Escoda Shoal ignored warnings and deliberately collided with a Chinese vessel. However, according to the NTF-WPS, BRP Cape Engaño was navigating southeast of Escoda Shoal when a Chinese vessel performed aggressive maneuvers, resulting in a collision. BRP Bagacay, located southeast of Escoda Shoal, was rammed twice by another Chinese vessel, causing minor damage.

Despite these incidents, the Philippine Coast Guard remains committed to delivering essential supplies to personnel stationed on the Patag and Lawak Islands. The NTF-WPS emphasized the importance of adhering to international laws to prevent further escalations and ensure the safety of all vessels operating in the region.

The situation remains tense as China's extensive claims in the South China Sea overlap with those of several countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines, stating that China's claims have "no legal basis," but China does not recognize this decision.