Philippines, China trade charges as ships collide

Taipei, August 31 China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a collision between their two vessels on Saturday in the latest flare-up of tensions over disputed waters and maritime features in the South China Sea. Japan protests chinese...

AP

Updated At : 10:55 AM Sep 01, 2024 IST

A Philippine coast guard ship surrounded by Chinese maritime vessels in the South China Sea. REUTERS File

Taipei, August 31

China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a collision between their two vessels on Saturday in the latest flare-up of tensions over disputed waters and maritime features in the South China Sea.

Japan protests chinese ship’s entry
Tokyo: Japan lodged a formal protest via China’s embassy against what it called an incursion by a Chinese survey ship into its territorial waters on Saturday, the Japanese foreign ministry said. The ministry expressed “strong concern” after the ship was spotted near Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, early in the morning. The Chinese ship left shortly before 8 am, said Japan's defence ministry.

In a statement posted on social media, Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun was quoted as saying that the Philippine ship with hull number 9701 collided with the Chinese ship 5205 just after 12:06 pm on Saturday. As the Philippine ship manoeuvered, it “deliberately collided” with the Chinese coast guard ship “in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a collision.”

Philippine officials in Manila 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. It was the second confrontation in days near Sabina Shoal, about 140 km (85 miles) west of the Philippine province of Palawan, in the internationally recognised exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

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, whose security the US is treaty-bound to ensure. The long-time territorial disputes also involve other claimants including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. China has rejected a ruling by a UN-backed arbitration panel that negated almost all of Beijing’s historically-based claims in the South China Sea.

On Tuesday, the head of US Indo-Pacific Command said the US military was open to consultations about escorting Philippine ships in the disputed waters amid the spike in hostilities.

Adm Samuel Paparo’s remarks provided a glimpse of the mindset of one of the highest American military commanders outside the US mainland on a prospective operation that would risk putting US Navy ships in direct collisions with those of China.

The Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships regularly clash with Philippine vessels during attempts to resupply Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries.