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Chinese vessels are seen colliding while tailing the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Suluan, August 11, 2025.
Philippine Coast Guard / Released
MANILA, Philippines — China has confirmed the deaths of two coast guard sailors nearly a year after they were killed in a collision involving Chinese vessels during a confrontation with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship in the disputed South China Sea.
According to Agence France-Presse, the sailors, identified as Yi Xinyu, 21, and Cheng Long, 25, died on Aug. 11, 2025 — the same day a Chinese navy vessel collided with a China Coast Guard ship while pursuing a PCG vessel near a disputed shoal.
The incident appears to be the same collision reported by the PCG on Aug. 11, 2025, when a China Coast Guard vessel crashed into a Chinese warship while chasing the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Suluan near Scarborough Shoal.
At the time, PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the Chinese coast guard vessel was pursuing the Philippine ship at high speed when it made a risky maneuver and struck the Chinese warship.
Video released by the PCG showed the Chinese vessels colliding.
The China Coast Guard confirmed a confrontation with Philippine vessels at the time but did not mention the collision or report any deaths or injuries.
AFP reported that the People's Armed Police Force said Wednesday it had awarded four individuals, including Yi and Cheng, the title of "martyr."
Profiles of Yi and Cheng on China's China Martyrs Network said both died during a "rights defense operation" in the South China Sea, according to AFP.
Yi was 21 and Cheng was 25 when they died. It was not immediately clear when they were given the martyr designation. The title provides their families with government assistance, including housing and medical support, according to AFP.
China claims most of the South China Sea, including waters and features also claimed by the Philippines and other countries in the region.
The Philippines and China have repeatedly clashed over their competing claims in the disputed waters.
Tensions between Manila and Beijing also grew in July after Chinese state-run outlet China Daily posted a video depicting Filipinos as monkeys.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. condemned the post as a racist attack and said it mocked the Philippines' victory in the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling while glorifying violence against Filipinos and Philippine soldiers.
On July 12, the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling with a joint statement signed by 13 countries, including the United States and Japan, affirming that the award is legally binding.
