The Philippine government strongly criticized a supply ship traveling in the South China Sea, which was intercepted and collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, calling it “an unlawful act”.
According to the Philippine government, on the morning of the 22nd, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel collided with a Philippine supply ship near Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea.
The supply ship was tasked with providing materials to military bases. The Philippine government released a statement saying, “We strongly condemn, in the strongest terms, the dangerous, irresponsible, and unlawful actions of China.”
On the other hand, the Chinese government declared, “The Philippines ignored China’s warnings and dangerously approached our vessel, causing the collision. The Philippines is responsible for all consequences.”
The recent collisions between China and the Philippines in the disputed area of the South China Sea have caused tensions to escalate in the region. The Philippine authorities have accused the Chinese Coast Guard of carrying out dangerous maneuvers that led to collisions with Philippine vessels. The collisions occurred while the Philippine vessels were on a mission to resupply troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea has described China’s actions as provocative, irresponsible, and illegal. They claim that the safety of the Philippine boat’s crew was endangered by the Chinese Coast Guard’s maneuvers. In another incident, a Philippine coast guard ship collided with a Chinese maritime militia vessel during the same resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a navy transport ship grounded by Manila on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999.
On the other hand, the Chinese Coast Guard has accused the Philippines of violating international marine law and threatening the navigation safety of Chinese ships. They claim that the Philippine vessels trespassed into what they call the Nansha islands and Renai Reef, prompting their intervention. The Chinese Coast Guard alleges that the Philippine Coast Guard purposely provoked trouble and caused a collision with a Chinese fishing boat.
It’s worth noting that Beijing claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the South China Sea, including the islands and sandbars within it. However, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, stating that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights to the bulk of the South China Sea. Despite this ruling, China has ignored it.
No injuries were reported in the collisions, but they are the latest in a series of flashpoints between China and the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea. These incidents have further strained relations between the two countries. Recent incidents, such as the cutting of a Chinese-installed floating barrier by a Filipino diver and the accusation of China’s maritime militia damaging coral reefs near the Palawan island chain, have also added to the tensions.
