An aerial view shows the BRP Sierra Madre on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, known locally as Ayungin, in the South China Sea, March 9, 2023./File Photo Acquisition of License Rights
BEIJING, Dec 10 (Portal) – The Philippines and China exchanged accusations on Sunday over a collision between their ships in disputed waters of the South China Sea, as tensions escalated over claims in the vital waterway.
The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of firing water cannons and ramming replenishment ships and a coast guard vessel, causing “severe engine damage” to one vessel, while the Chinese Coast Guard said the Philippine vessel intentionally rammed its vessel.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, a channel for annual shipping trade worth more than $3 trillion, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration said in 2016 that China's claims had no legal basis.
Beijing and Manila are playing cat and mouse over the uninhabited Second Thomas Shoal in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, as the Philippines sends resupply missions for Filipino soldiers living aboard an aging warship that deliberately ran aground in 1999 to protect Manila's maritime claims protect.
The shoal is part of the islands known internationally as the Spratly Islands.
On Saturday, the Philippines accused China of “illegal and aggressive actions” by China for firing water cannons at a civil society-run government fishing vessel, a move Beijing described as legitimate “control measures.”
Commenting on Sunday's incident, the Chinese Coast Guard said in a statement that despite repeated warnings, two Philippine vessels “illegally entered the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Reef in the Nansha Islands without the consent of the Chinese government.”
It said the Unaizah Mae 1 “made an unprofessional and dangerous sudden turn and intentionally rammed Chinese Coast Guard Vessel 21556.” It said the Philippine side bore full responsibility.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela posted on the social media platform
A Philippine government task force condemned “China's recent unprovoked coercive actions and dangerous maneuvers against a legitimate and routine” resupply mission. China's actions “call into question the seriousness of its calls for peaceful dialogue and raise significant doubts,” it said in a statement.
The National Task Force-West Philippine Sea said a coast guard ship was towing the Kalayaan back to Palawan province and that the coast guard ship BRP Cabra “sustained damage to its mast after being directly attacked by the full force of water cannons.”
US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson posted on X that China's “aggression undermines regional stability and defiance of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Around 200 Filipino fishermen, youth leaders and civil society groups have joined a Christmas mission to the region organized by Atin Ito (“This Is Ours”), a civilian-led network advocating for the country’s rights in the South China Sea .
Ten fishing boats had decided to withdraw because they were “playing it safe,” the group said on Sunday.
Reporting by Mikhail Flores, Colleen Howe and Eve Wu; Edited by William Mallard and Miral Fahmy
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