Ships from China and Philippines collide in disputed area – DW – 08/19/2024

Ships from China and the Philippines “collided” during a standoff near a disputed coral reef in the South China Sea this Monday (08/19/2024), state media in Beijing and the government in Manila said.

“Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, the Philippine vessel 4410 deliberately collided with the Chinese vessel 21551,” state television CCTV quoted Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Zheng Yu as saying.

“Philippine coast guard vessels… illegally entered the waters near Jianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” said Geng, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Sandbar and Spratly Islands.

“The Chinese coast guard took restrictive measures against Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” the spokesperson added. China accused the Philippine ships of “behaving unprofessionally and dangerously, resulting in a confrontation.”

The Philippines condemned the “illegal and aggressive” Chinese maneuvers

The Philippine government on Monday condemned “illegal and aggressive” maneuvers by Chinese coast guard vessels that damaged two Philippine coast guard vessels in a fresh incident in the disputed South China Sea.

The National Council reported two skirmishes between Sunday and Monday against Philippine ships trying to deliver supplies to personnel stationed on the islands of Padak and Lavag, controlled by Manila and claimed by Beijing. for the West Philippine Sea (which Manila calls the South China Sea).

The Philippine vessel Cape Engaño (called Escoda in the Philippines and Xianbin Jiao in China) was sailing 23 nautical miles southeast of Sabina Atoll when one of the collisions left a hole approximately 12 centimeters in diameter. Located in the Spratly Islands.

“It collided with the ship's starboard beam, creating a hole in the deck approximately 5 inches (12 centimeters) in diameter,” the report said, along with photos of the damage.

Minutes after this collision and in nearby waters, another Chinese vessel rammed another Philippine vessel “twice”, identified as the BRP Bagacay, ending up with “minor structural damage”.

JC (AFP, Reuters)