China and the Philippines have blamed each other after two vessels collided in a disputed area of the South China Sea.
The Philippines has claimed one of its patrol vessels was rammed three times by a Chinese coast guard ship in the debated territory, but Beijing has accused the Philippines of “deliberately” crashing into its ship.
Saturday’s collision near the Sabina Shoal is the latest incident in an escalating row between the two countries over various islands and zones in the South China Sea.
The Sabina Shoal falls under the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but is also one of several parts of the sea that China claims it owns.
Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine coast guard, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter): “This afternoon, the Chinese Coast Guard vessel deliberately rammed and collided with the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times, despite no provocation from the Philippine Coast Guard.”
Meanwhile, US ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay L. Carlson, blamed China. She stated: “The US condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today’s intentional ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua while it was conducting lawful operations within the [Philippines’] EEZ [exclusive economic zone].
“We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law.”
Within the past two weeks, there have been at least three other incidents in the same area involving ships belonging to the two countries.
The South China Sea is a major shipping route through which $3 trillion worth of trade passes through annually.
Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China’s coast guard called on the Philippines to withdraw from the Sabina Shoal while pledging to “resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement”.
The Philippines coast guard said it would not move its vessel – the Teresa Magbanua – “despite the harassment, the bullying activities and escalatory action of the Chinese coast guard”.
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