Chinese and Philippine ships “collide” in the South China Sea

 

Chinese and Philippine vessels collided on Monday in an altercation near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Beijing state media reported. The two countries are blaming each other for the incident.

 

“Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with the Chinese vessel 21551,” said state-run CCTV, quoting a spokesman for the Chinese coast guard, Geng Yu.

 

The “illegal and aggressive” maneuvers by Chinese vessels near the Sabina atoll “resulted in collisions causing structural damage to both Philippine Coast Guard vessels”, the Philippine body in charge of the case said in a statement. It said that two Philippine Coast Guard vessels had been damaged.

 

Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands close to the coasts of several neighboring countries, and has ignored the ruling of an international tribunal in 2016 rejecting this legally baseless claim.

 

Tensions between Beijing and Manila have intensified in recent months, particularly following a series of confrontations in the South China Sea.

 

“Philippine coastguard vessels illegally entered waters near Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” said Geng Yu, using the Chinese names for Sabina Atoll and the Spratly Islands. “The Chinese coast guard has taken control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” Beijing added.

 

China accused the Philippine vessels of acting “unprofessionally and dangerously, resulting in a chance collision”. “We strongly urge the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringements and provocations,” said Geng Yu.

  

According to images broadcast by CCTV, a ship, identified by Beijing as Filipino, collided with a Chinese vessel on its port side, before continuing on its way. Other images from the Chinese state channel showed the Chinese ship colliding with the stern of the Philippine vessel. CCTV's news banners claim that the incident occurred after the Philippine vessel made a “sudden change of direction”. China called the maneuver “unprofessional and dangerous”.

 

The state news agency Chine Nouvelle reported that the incident took place at 3:24 a.m. local time. It also reported that the Philippine Coast Guard vessel then entered the waters around the second Thomas Shoal - the scene of frequent clashes between the two sides - at around 6am.

  

Second Thomas Atoll, home to a small Philippine garrison stationed on a military vessel beached by the Philippine army in 1999, lies around 200 km from the island of Palawan, in the west of the Philippines, and more than 1,000 km from the Chinese island of Hainan. It has been the scene of clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in recent months, as Beijing steps up efforts to assert its claims to virtually the entire South China Sea.