USCGC Waesche accompanies the PCG’s Melchora Aquino (sister ship of BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) during a search-and-rescue exercise in the South China Sea in July 2024. (USCG)
Naval News reports on the comments of Rear Admiral Andrew M. Sugimoto, Deputy Pacific Area Commander, about the US Coast Guard’s position regarding Chinese attempts to intimidate the Philippine Coast Guard. Read it. It is excellent reporting.
I will just note a couple of things.
What is this? I think it is a can opener, meaning this tactic was premeditated in the construction of this class.
China Coast Guard cutter 5205 was the same ship that used a laser against the Philippine Coast Guard in February 2023.
I would also note that while the Chinese cutter involved has both a 76mm gun and 30mm auto cannon, the 97-meter (317′) Japanese built Philippine cutter is armed with nothing larger than .50 caliber machine guns, so the China Coast Guard cutter could be confident, the Philippine cutter would not respond to the attack with gun fire.
The Philippine Cutter may have been marginally faster than the Chinese cutter, but she may have also been boxed in by other Chinese vessels on scene.
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
This is going to be an on going saga until the Philippines wake up and smell the damn coffee that your can’t play nice with China anymore. The Philippines constantly getting pushed over by China is why they are so weak, neutered and impotent when it comes to standing up to China. All their Talk about getting tough on China is a SICK SAD JOKE because Talk is cheap and Actions speak louder than words. If you really wanted to make China think twice, 3 rounds across the bow is enough to make any ship captain stop and think twice. The philippines won’t do it cause they are so weak because they are trying to drag the US to clean up their dirty mess instead of doing the damn job themselves
If the Philippines seriously wanted to get tough on CHINA, then they should seriously adopt an A2/AD strategy like Vietnam. Vietnam can punch China because China knows they don’t want to enter Vietnam’s waters and FAFO how good Vietnam’s Improved Kilo class SSK with their Kaliber Cruise missile system. Which is why Vietnam is more serious in defending their EEZ than the piss poor Philippines.
The sad reality here is that the Philippines is all talk about buying Multi role fighters, Frigates, Corvettes, OPVS and SSK Submarines but None of it is enough to make China think twice. For example, their So-called frigate is not even armed with all the weapons and systems like Air defense Missiles, Torpedos and Surface to Surface weapons. It’s just a Glorifed Gun boat. The same can be said with their Hamilton class OPV’s. They ain’t even armed to take on a Surface ship. Let’s not forget, they talk about getting SSK Submarines but nothing materializes and all the talk is just for show and to puff up their chest. As for getting Multi Role Fighters, the Philippines talk and BRAG so much about getting Falcons or Gripens but no signed contract or order.
The problem with the Philippines is that they are SO obsessed with wanting Newer gear, Aircraft and ships. The reality here is that the Philippines are Priced out of Newer Gear and they can’t seem to realize this. They dream of buying military gear but their budget is making them have a REALITY check that they refuse to see. They refuse to see that countries like Chile, who operate 2nd hand frigates have a better chance of standing up to China than the Philippines. Then you have countries like Singapore who started their Submarine program with 2nd hand Submarines, to becoming the most powerful submarine force in Asia. Then you have Argentina who is getting 2nd hand F-16s and soon, second hand KC-135’s.
The reality here is that the Philippines needs to stop pipe dreaming of buying top of the line gear cause they know they can’t match China. They need to stop focusing on buying newer gear and look at 2nd hand assets. 2nd hand assets would give the Philippines something to Stand on and at least punch china in the nose. Which is why the Philippines desperately need Military gear and they can’t be waiting for newer gear all while China is bullying them on their EEZ.
If the Philippines are so desperate for Military gear, they can get 2nd hand frigates like the Type 23 frigate from the UK and they can use it for Air defense. As for Fighters, they can ask the US to hand them 2nd hand F-16s because the US is transitioning to F-35’s. For MPA aircraft, they can ask the US to see if they can take the used P-3C off their hands as their MPA aircraft. As for SSK submarines, they can talk to South Korea on taking the Jang Bogo-class submarine off their hands and use it to build up their skill set and tactics before venturing to newer submarines
Not a can opener, a bow anchor. That class seems to have a Stb anchor and a bow anchor.
That is a possibility, but it does not look like a bow anchor to me.
In any case it looks like it is what did most of the damage to the Philippine cutter.
More video here: China releases video said to show collision with Philippine vessel in South China Sea | Watch (msn.com)
I’m no expert in military strategy but looking at that picture of one Philippines cutter surrounded by Chinese vessels leads me to believe that there is no planning for these resupply missions. The Philippines should definitely have more vessels on site. Maybe surround the supply vessel with larger ones. One or two armed vessels standing by. Maybe a helicopter for air support.
Have the US and or another country send a ship in to oversee the operation. There should be a strategic plan to do these missions rather than what they keep repeating and failing at.
Peter, in this case it was not a resupply mission. The Philippine cutter was there to monitor activity and make sure the Chinese were not building another artificial island.