CHINA’s embassy in Manila said Friday that a Chinese navy vessel provided humanitarian assistance to a distressed Philippine fishing boat in the South China Sea on Thursday. In a statement, the embassy said Chinese Navy ship 174 came upon a Philippine fishing vessel whose engine had broken down, leaving its crew stranded at sea for three days. It said the Chinese vessel gave the fishermen food and drinking water, and coordinated subsequent assistance with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). “The Chinese side acted in the spirit of humanitarianism,” the embassy said. While acknowledging the humanitarian gesture, the PCG cited discrepancies in the embassy’s account of the incident. The PCG said it received no prior information from the Chinese vessel it identified as People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) destroyer on the fisherman’s location or condition. The fishing boat, the PCG said, was moored to a Floating Aggregate Device (FAD), locally known as a payao, awaiting pickup by its mother boat. Claims that the boat had been adrift for three days were inaccurate, the PCG said. The vessel sailed from Zambales at around 3 p.m. on Dec. 24, and both the PCG and the mother boat located it the following afternoon — less than 24 hours later. The agency said the Chinese destroyer had no legitimate reason to operate inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The reported location of the incident — 14°33.470’N, 118°52.120’E, roughly 71 nautical miles west of Silanguin Island, Zambales — is well within the EEZ. The PCG called on China not to exploit the incident for propaganda purposes. “This event should serve as recognition that Filipino fishermen have full rights to fish in the waters around Bajo de Masinloc,” it said. The PCG contrasted the Chinese navy vessel’s gesture with the China Coast Guard’s “barbaric, illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions” against Filipino fishermen. Maritime analysts noted that such encounters at sea, particularly involving naval assets, are often sensitive, given the competing claims in the South China Sea. Relations between Manila and Beijing have been strained by multiple confrontations between Philippine vessels and Chinese coast guard and maritime militia ships. Observers said humanitarian assistance at sea is consistent with international maritime practice, which obliges vessels to render aid to those in distress regardless of nationality. However, they cautioned that humanitarian narratives can also carry diplomatic weight in contested waters. “This is not unusual in maritime law, but the broader context matters,” said a maritime security expert. “Any interaction between state vessels in disputed areas is closely watched by both governments and the public.” The incident also highlights the risks faced by Filipino fishermen venturing into distant fishing grounds, where mechanical breakdowns can quickly become life-threatening due to weather, distance from shore, and limited communication. Advocacy groups have repeatedly called for a stronger support system for small-scale fishers, including better access to safety equipment, emergency communication tools, and more frequent patrols by Philippine authorities.