MANILA — A Chinese maritime militia vessel deliberately sideswiped and collided with a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel patrolling the Sandy Cays of Pag-asa Island, the agency said. 

BFAR’s Datu Cabaylo vessel sustained a minor dent because of the incident that happened on October 11, the agency said in a statement.

"At around 0745H, as BRP Datu Cabaylo was slowly approaching Pag-asa Sandy Cay 4, Chinese Maritime Militia vessel with bow number 00108 deliberately sideswiped the BRP Datu Cabaylo at the starboard bow, or the front right portion of the Philippine

vessel," the statement read.

"Prior to this, the CMM vessel 00108 conducted dangerous maneuvers and tried to block the path of BRP Datu Cabaylo. (MMOV 3001). These dangerous maneuvers caused the sideswiping and collision with the BFAR vessel, which sustained minor dents in its starboard bow," it added.

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BFAR said the maritime patrol of the cays continued despite the incident.

"The BFAR vessel maintained its position and was able to continue with its MARPAT mission in the Pag-asa Sandy Cays," BFAR said.

"Both the BRP Datu Cabaylo and the BRP Datu Sanday successfully completed their MARPAT mission in the Pag-asa Sandy Cays, and are now safely docked at the Pag-asa Sheltered Port," they added.

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Pag-asa Sandy Cay 4 is located at 5.1 nautical miles south-southwest of Pagasa Island and is within the island's 12 nautical mile territorial waters.

"We commend the officers and crew of the BRP Datu Cabaylo (MMOV 3001) as they continue to perform their duty, in line with the mandate of BFAR, to uphold Philippine jurisdiction and rights over its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone," BFAR said.

Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, a waterway of immense strategic importance through which trillions of dollars in trade transits every year.

The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Brunei also have competing claims to various small islands and reefs.

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Chinese coast guard and other vessels have  rammed,  used water cannons against and blocked Philippine government vessels.

China has for years sought to expand its presence in the sea's contested areas, brushing aside an international ruling that its claim to most of the waterway has no legal basis.

It has built artificial islands armed with missile systems and runways for fighter jets, and deployed vessels that the Philippines says harass its ships and block its fishers. — With a report from Agence France-Presse