On Saturday, China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a collision between their two vessels in the latest flare-up of tensions over disputed waters in the South China Sea.
In a statement posted over social media, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson was quoted as saying that a Philippine ship maneuvered and “deliberately collided” with a Chinese coast guard ship “in an unprofessional and dangerous manner.” Philippine officials in Manila, meanwhile, said it was their coast guard ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, that was rammed thrice by the Chinese coast guard without any provocation, causing damage to the Philippine vessel, as per the AP. Video released by the Philippine coast guard appeared to show the Magbanua being rammed by a Chinese coast guard ship.
In this image taken from handout video, a Chinese coast guard ship collides with a ship from the Philippines’ coast guard near Sabina Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday.
In a statement posted on social media, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson was quoted as saying that a Philippine ship maneuvered and “deliberately collided” with a Chinese coast guard ship “in an unprofessional and dangerous manner.” Philippine officials in Manila, meanwhile, said it was their coast guard ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, that was rammed thrice by the Chinese coast guard without any provocation, causing damage to the Philippine vessel, per the AP and other social media associated to the offshore incident . Video released by the Philippine coast guard appeared to show the Magbanua being rammed by a Chinese coast guard ship.
It was the second confrontation in days near Sabina Shoal, about 85 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan, in the internationally recognized exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. The Philippine ship, the Magbanua, has been anchored in Sabina since mid-April after Manila suspected that China may construct a structure to seize the uninhabited atoll.
China harbored the same suspicions and recently filed a diplomatic protest against the Philippines due to the ship’s prolonged presence at the shoal. China is rapidly expanding its military and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international trade.
The tensions have led to more frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines, and could drag in the United States, which is bound by a treaty to defend the Philippines. The longtime territorial disputes also involve other claimants, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Meanwhile, the previous attempt by the Philippines to get the United Nations to arbitrate ended with the decision that China had no lawful claims within its so-called nine dash line, the boundary it uses to claim a large swathe of the South China Sea. Beijing has refused to recognise the ruling.
According to Reuters, Japan also logged a protest via Chinese embassy
