China’s coast guard said on Monday that a Philippine ship ignored its repeated warnings and “intentionally collided” with a Chinese vessel in an “unprofessional and dangerous” manner in the disputed South China Sea.
A short video of the incident posted on social media by the China Coast Guard showed the collision occurred at 3:24 am on Monday (1924 GMT on Sunday) and described the Chinese vessel as a coast guard ship.
In a statement, China Maritime Security said the same Philippine ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal after it was blocked from entering the Sabina Shoal waters.
Two Philippine coast guard ships “illegally intruded” into the waters adjacent to Sabina Shoal without permission early on Monday, according to China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu.
“The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and caused trouble, and violated the temporary arrangement between China and the Philippines,” Gan said, referring to the Philippine mission supplying the ship docked at Second Thomas Shoal.
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s coast guard said it took control measures against Philippine vessels in accordance with law in the incidents on Monday morning, and warned the Philippines to “immediately stop violations and provocations” or “bear all consequences.”
China and the Philippines reached a “temporary agreement” in July after repeated disputes near the Second Thomas Shoal. China has been heavily criticised by Western countries for what it said was deliberate aggression in blocking the Philippines’ efforts to repatriate troops from a navy ship 25 years ago.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including both coasts, and has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that said Beijing’s sweeping claims had no basis under international law.
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