Beijing, Aug 7 (V7N) - Beijing has quietly confirmed the deaths of two Chinese sailors in a collision in the contested South China Sea, nearly a year after the incident took place.
Last August, a Chinese navy vessel collided with one of its own coast guard ships while chasing a Philippine patrol boat near a disputed shoal, according to video footage released by Manila. A Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed at the time that a confrontation had occurred but did not mention any collision, injuries, or fatalities.
This week, the People's Armed Police Force announced on social media that it had awarded four "martyrs"—including Coast Guard sailors Yi Xinyu and Cheng Long—a special title for their "steadfast political convictions, exemplary deeds, and outstanding achievements."
According to their profiles on the government's "China Martyrs Network," both sailors died on August 11, 2025—the date of last year's collision—while participating in a "rights defense operation" in the South China Sea. Yi was 21 years old at the time of his death, and Cheng was 25.
The designation of "martyr" provides families with special housing, medical support, and other aid. It is unclear when the title was officially awarded.
The confirmation comes as territorial disputes between China and the Philippines continue to escalate in the South China Sea, with Beijing claiming almost all of the waterway as its territory. Filipino and Chinese sailors clashed again in the disputed waters in July, marking their first serious encounter in months and leading both sides to summon each other's ambassadors.
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