A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, China’s coast guard said, in the latest flare-up of escalating territorial disputes that have sparked alarm.
The coast guard yesterday said a Philippine supply ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that’s part of territory claimed by several nations.
The Chinese coast guard said in a statement on the social media platform WeChat the Philippine supply ship “ignored China’s repeated solemn warnings ... and dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in normal navigation in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.”
“The Philippines is entirely responsible for this,” it added.
Beijing accused the ship of having “illegally broken into the sea near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands”.
“The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with the law.”
In Manila, the Philippine military said it would “not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our exclusive economic zone.”
It used the Philippine name for the shoal, where Filipino navy personnel have transported food, medicine and other supplies to a long-grounded warship that has served as Manila’s territorial outpost.
The Philippines says the shoal falls within its internationally recognised exclusive economic zone and often cites a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea based on historical grounds.
On Saturday, new Chinese coast guard rules took effect under which it can detain foreigners for alleged trespassing in the disputed sea.
China has defended its new coast guard rules. A foreign ministry spokesman said last month they were intended to “better uphold order at sea”. — Agencies
