China and the Philippines on Saturday, August 31, accused each other of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships near a flashpoint shoal in the South China Sea. | Photo Credit: Reuters
China and the Philippines accused each other China on Saturday (August 31, 2024) accused a Chinese navy of deliberately ramming its coast guard ships near a flashpoint shoal in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of similar incidents in recent weeks.
China claims almost the entire economically vital waterway, while other countries contest its claims and an international court has ruled that its claim has no legal basis.
A Chinese coast guard spokesman said Saturday’s incident occurred near the disputed Sabina Shoal, which has emerged as a new flashpoint in a long-running maritime confrontation between Manila and Beijing.
Sabina Shoal is located 140km west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200km from Hainan Island, the nearest major Chinese landmass.
China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said that shortly after noon (0400 GMT) a Philippine vessel “intentionally” rammed a Chinese ship near the coastal area known as Xianbin in Chinese, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“China exercises indisputable sovereignty in the region”, Liu said, condemning the “unprofessional and dangerous” conduct of the Philippine ship.
However, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriella said it was the China Coast Guard Vessel 5205 that “directly and intentionally rammed” the 97-meter-long Philippine vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua.
The ship has been anchored inside the Sabina Shoal since April to reinforce Manila’s claim to the area.
Mr. Tarriela said the collision occurred three times, causing BRP Teresa Magbanua‘s port bow, starboard quarter and port beam.
No crew member was injured in the incident, but the ship’s bridge wing and freeboard were damaged. A hole was also found.
“It is important for us to note that this collision happened despite our unprovoked action and our presence at Escoda Shoal,” Mr. Tarrille told reporters, using the Filipino name for Sabina Shoal.
‘Serious concern’
Mr. Tarriela said the collision was the fifth incident of Chinese maritime harassment this month.
National Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez said the report on the latest clash would be sent to the Philippine Foreign Department for review and appropriate action.
“We take this with grave concern,” Lopez said at a news conference.
“We are there on legal grounds because it is our territory. We don’t need to ask for permission in our territory. We should be very clear about that,” he said.
Philippine and Chinese ships have collided at least twice this month near the Sabina Shoal, and analysts say Beijing is seeking to push deeper into Manila’s exclusive economic zone and normalise Chinese control over the region.
The discovery of piles of crushed coral on the seashore this year raised suspicions in Manila that Beijing was planning to build a more permanent base there, which would be its closest outpost to the Philippine archipelago.
There have also been recent clashes between Philippine and Chinese ships around Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
A Filipino sailor lost his thumb in a clash in June when Chinese coast guard members attacked with knives, sticks and axes and thwarted a Filipino navy attempt to resupply a small military base.
Sabina Shoal is also the rendezvous point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison located on Second Thomas Shoal.
The repeated clashes led Manila to label Beijing the “biggest disruptor” to peace in Southeast Asia at a defence conference this month.