A Philippine ship on a resupply mission was rammed by a Chinese coast guard ship on Sunday, Philippine authorities said, while China accused the ship of “deliberately colliding” with the Chinese ship.
A Chinese ship also “fired a water cannon” at three Philippine ships involved in the replenishment mission, causing “severe engine damage” on one of the ships, West Philippine Sea Coast Guard spokesman Jay said. Tarriela, in a message published on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
The Chinese coast guard indicated that four Philippine ships “illegally entered” the waters of the Spratly Islands, claimed by China, according to a statement.
A Philippine ship “did not pay attention to the multiple and severe warnings (…) and suddenly changed direction in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, deliberately colliding with the Chinese coast guard ship 21556,” adds the same note from the Chinese authorities.
The incident near Second Thomas, an atoll in the Spratly Islands, comes a day after another clash between Chinese coast guards who “attacked with water cannons” three Philippine government ships supplying Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, a reef controlled by Beijing off the Philippine island. of Luzon.
Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime disputes in the South China Sea, through which billions of dollars’ worth of goods pass annually.
Beijing claims virtually the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands off the coasts of neighboring countries, and has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that this claim has no legal basis.
The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim several reefs and islets in that sea, some of which may contain rich oil reserves.
Source: TSF
