On the morning of October 15, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that personnel stationed on Mahuang Island set out in rubber boats, circled Chinese fishing vessels three times and repeatedly hailed them over the radio without receiving any response, then drove away four small fishing boats until the mother vessel weighed anchor and left.
The Philippine Coast Guard accused Chinese coast guard vessels of obstructing the evacuation of sick military personnel near Second Thomas Shoal. China's Foreign Ministry responded that the Chinese side, out of humanitarian considerations, allowed the Philippine side to transfer the personnel and provided facilitation, and accused the Philippines of making a false countercharge.
On October 4, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that while the PCG, the navy and the police were pursuing a foreign fishing boat suspected of blast fishing near Thitu Island, they were blocked by two Chinese coast guard ships, one of which at one point came within about 9 meters of the Philippine speedboat, and a PLA Navy helicopter circled the area four times. The fishing boat headed in the direction of Subi Reef, and the Philippine side stopped the pursuit for safety reasons, saying the matter will be handled through diplomatic channels.
A Chinese Communist Party (CCP) research vessel illegally intruded into waters near the Batanes Islands of the Philippines. The Philippines dispatched coast guard ships and aircraft and successfully drove it off; the CCP coast guard vessels on the scene did not dare to intervene.
On September 18, the Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese coast guard ship of deliberately ramming a fisheries bureau vessel near Bambay Shoal in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, about 54 nautical miles from Palawan Island, causing the railing to bend and come loose and damaging metal supports on the deck. The China Coast Guard countered that the Philippine vessel had suddenly accelerated and cut in front of the Chinese ship's bow, saying responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side; the Chinese Foreign Ministry also accused the Philippine side of provocation and making trouble. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Lipton issued a statement strongly condemning the Chinese side's behavior.
The Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese coast guard ship fired a water cannon at a Philippine fisheries vessel near Scarborough Shoal; the Chinese side said the Philippine vessel had intruded into disputed waters.
The Philippine Coast Guard has dispatched a patrol vessel to the Rim of the Pacific exercise held in Hawaii for the first time this year, setting several first-time records.