CCP Admits Two Coast Guard Deaths a Year After South China Sea Collision

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has indirectly confirmed that two Chinese Coast Guard personnel, Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long, were killed last year during what Beijing described as a “rights defense operation on the front line in the South China Sea.”

At the time, a CCP Coast Guard vessel was reportedly pursuing a Philippine patrol ship at high speed when it was struck head-on by a CCP missile destroyer. Although there had been speculation that personnel aboard the Coast Guard vessel may have been killed, the CCP remained silent for a year before indirectly acknowledging the deaths.

CCP posthumously honors two soldiers, indirectly revealing the tragedy

On Aug. 5, 2026, the CCP state media outlet CNR Military reported on its WeChat account that four “martyrs”—Yi Xinyu, Miao Jian, Cheng Long, and Qiao Helin—had been posthumously awarded the title of “China Armed Police Loyal Guardian.”

Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long were reportedly both from Shandong Province.

Yi Xinyu, 22, was a Chinese Coast Guard serviceman before his death. Chinese official records state that he “died in the line of duty on Aug. 11, 2025, while participating in a rights-defense operation on the front line in the South China Sea.”

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Cheng Long, 25, was an enforcement officer aboard the Nanyu vessel, operated by the Third Bureau directly under the Chinese Coast Guard. Chinese official records likewise state that he “died in a maritime rights-defense operation on Aug. 11, 2025,” but do not specify the exact location of his death.

Chinese Coast Guard vessel pursuing Philippine patrol ship gets ‘decapitated’ by missile destroyer

On Aug. 11, 2025, the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Suluan was escorting ships carrying humanitarian supplies for distribution to Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea.

According to video released by the Philippine Coast Guard, in the waters around Democracy Reef—known in China as Huangyan Island—a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, No. 3104, pursued the BRP Suluan at high speed while firing water cannons. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel chased the Philippine patrol ship from behind as the Chinese Navy’s Type 052D guided-missile destroyer Guilin (hull No. 164) also raced toward the scene.

The BRP Suluan made a sharp turn to the right and maneuvered around the bow of the Guilin. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel, apparently unable to avoid the maneuver after making a risky approach, collided with the Guilin. A loud impact was heard at the scene, and the bow of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel was severely damaged, leaving it looking as if it had been “decapitated” and unable to continue sailing.

The forward port side of the Guilin also sustained multiple dents and scrape marks from the collision.

In the video released by the Philippines, after the collision between the Chinese vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard can be heard telling the Chinese side over the radio that there were medicines and medical personnel aboard and that they were willing to provide any assistance needed. The Guilin, however, did not respond and instead continued pursuing the BRP Suluan for some time before slowing down. Crew members aboard the Suluan reportedly saw a large hole in the port side of the Guilin’s bow.

Approximately one hour after the collision, the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard began search-and-rescue operations.

Chinese authorities suppress news of Coast Guard collision for a year; mainland media remain silent

At the time of the incident, observers estimated that the collision involving Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3104 may have resulted in casualties. Philippine Senator Panfilo Lacson said that two Chinese Coast Guard personnel had been killed, while foreign media reports also mentioned deaths among the Chinese crew. Chinese authorities, however, did not publicly disclose any information about casualties for an extended period.

The subsequent handling of the incident by China and the Philippines stood in stark contrast.

On the day of the collision, the Chinese Coast Guard issued a statement saying that its “on-site operations were professional, standardized, justified, and lawful.” The statement, however, made no mention of the collision involving the Chinese Coast Guard vessel. Chinese authorities subsequently issued no public report on the accident, while mainland Chinese media remained completely silent. Videos released by the Philippines were nevertheless widely circulated on Chinese social media, prompting widespread commentary from Chinese netizens. Chinese internet censors repeatedly deleted the videos and related discussions circulating online.

On Aug. 12, 2025, the Philippine military held a special awards ceremony for the crew of the BRP Suluan.

Some Chinese netizens analyzed the video released by the Philippines and claimed that five people could be seen at the bow of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel immediately before it collided with its own destroyer. Some appeared to move toward the rear after noticing the impending collision. The two vessels then collided, and what appeared to be a spray of blood was seen afterward, apparently turning part of the seawater red.

Chinese authorities continued to suppress information about the incident. It was not until roughly a year later, after public attention to the incident had faded, that Chinese authorities indirectly disclosed that two Chinese Coast Guard crew members had died in the collision.

Some netizens said that these two young lives were sacrificed as a result of the CCP’s efforts to project strength abroad and its attempts to bully neighboring countries. By contrast, the Philippines immediately set aside differences and, out of humanitarian concern, offered to provide assistance. The CCP, however, appeared particularly indifferent and denied the Chinese public the right to know what had happened.