The Chinese Coast Guard has accused his Philippine counterpart of “unprofessional and dangerous” behavior after a “deliberate” collision in the South China Sea early Monday morning, near the disputed Sabina Shoal.
“We solemnly warn the Philippine party to immediately stop the infringement and provocation, otherwise the (Philippines) will have to bear all consequences,” said spokesman Gan Yu.
Meanwhile, the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of “dangerous and illegal maneuvers” that led to “collisions, causing structural damage.” It also alleged that a ship was rammed near Second Thomas Shoal later that morning.
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Statements released by both maritime protection agencies on Monday revealed that an incident occurred at 3:24 a.m. after two Philippine vessels entered waters off the coast of the Philippines. Sabina school – known as Xianbin Reef in China and Escoda Shoal in the Philippines.
According to the Chinese coast guard, which also released two short videos of the incident, one of the Philippine vessels ignored repeated warnings and rammed the Chinese ship 21551.
Jonathan Malaya, deputy director-general of the National Security Council of the Philippines, said ship 4411 was subjected to “aggressive maneuvers” while sailing about 23 nautical miles southeast of Sabina Shoal.
“This resulted in a collision with the ship’s starboard beam, creating a hole in the deck approximately five inches in diameter,” he said.
In a second incident, the Philippine ship 4410 was “rammed twice on both the port and starboard sides” by a Chinese vessel, “resulting in minor structural damage,” Malaya said.
The Chinese coast guard issued a separate statement Monday morning saying that ship 4410 approached Second Thomas Shoal at around 6 a.m., also the subject of competing claims between the two countries.
The Chinese coast guard has taken measures to control the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law, the statement said.
The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine side of “repeatedly causing trouble” and “violating” a temporary agreement reached last month over the delivery of supplies to a Philippine-controlled ship that ran aground at Second Thomas Shoal.
Gan said the Chinese Coast Guard will continue to carry out law enforcement activities to “protect rights and interests in the waters under China’s jurisdiction” and “resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
Sabina Shoal, an uninhabited atoll in the disputed Spratly Islands that is also claimed by Vietnam, has become a new point of contention between China and the Philippines in recent months.
It is the rendezvous point for Philippine ships conducting supply missions for troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II-era ship that was deliberately run aground on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
In April, a standoff between the coast guards of both sides broke out at Sabina Shoal with the arrival of one of the Philippines’ most advanced coast guard vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua.
According to Manila, the ship was responding to reports that China was carrying out land reclamation work. Beijing has rejected that accusation, saying the Philippines is trying to establish a permanent outpost there, which it has denied.
On Thursday, the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative suggested the Philippines send a new coast guard ship to replace the BRP Teresa Magbanua and predicted a “strong response” from China.
The Philippine Coast Guard said its ship, the MRRV-4110, BRP Bagacay, was damaged Monday in a collision with one of its Chinese counterparts in the South China Sea. Photo: AP alt=The Philippine Coast Guard said its ship, the MRRV-4110, BRP Bagacay, was damaged Monday in a collision with one of its Chinese counterparts in the South China Sea. Photo: AP>
In response to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that China is “closely monitoring” the developments and will “take resolute and forceful measures.”
In a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday, Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the sandbar is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate in the Escoda Shoal lagoon for as long as necessary without the need for permission from any other country,” he said.
Tarriela posted photos on X on Monday of the damage to vessel 4410, including “a 2.5-foot long and 3-foot wide hole” on the port side, and a 1-foot dent and damage to 13 stanchion posts on the starboard side.
The Philippine Coast Guard said its ship BRP Cape Engano (MRRV-4411) was damaged on Monday when it collided with a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP alt=The Philippine Coast Guard said its ship BRP Cape Engano (MRRV-4411) was damaged on Monday when it collided with a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP>
In its statement, Malaya said the two Philippine vessels were delivering “essential supplies” to personnel stationed on Flat Island and Nanshan Island – both part of the disputed Spratly Islands – when they encountered their Chinese counterparts.
Malaya also confirmed Manila’s commitment that supply missions to both islands would continue.
“The Philippine Coast Guard stands firmly in its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domain while addressing any threat to our national interests,” he said.
“The National Task Force for the Western Philippine Sea urges restraint and compliance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international laws to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of all vessels sailing in the region,” Malaya added.
Flat Island and Nanshan Island, the second smallest and eighth largest natural islands in the Spratly Islands respectively, are part of Manila and claimed by China, the Philippines and Vietnam.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice covering China and Asia for over a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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