In a recent incident in the South China Sea, China and the Philippines have exchanged blame for a collision between their coast guard vessels. China accused the Philippines of deliberately ramming into a Chinese vessel, while the Philippines claimed that dangerous maneuvers by two China Coast Guard vessels caused damage to two Philippine Coast Guard vessels. This clash is part of a series of skirmishes between the two countries amid escalating tensions over disputed sovereignty claims in the region.
The collision occurred near the Sabina Shoal, known by different names to each country, in an area referred to as the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines. The Chinese Coast Guard released footage alleging that a Philippine vessel attempted to collide with a Chinese vessel, leading to the collision. However, the Philippines disputed this version of events, stating that they encountered aggressive maneuvers from the Chinese Coast Guard vessels.
The incident underscores the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea, with both countries asserting their rights under international law. The United States has condemned China’s actions and reiterated its support for the Philippines in upholding their rights in the region.
China has warned the Philippines about intruding into what it says are its territorial waters and issued new rules, effective since June 15, enforcing a 2021 law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships in waters it claims.
The new rules allow the China Coast Guard to detain suspected trespassers without trial for 60 days.
Two days after the law took effect, China Coast Guard personnel boarded Philippine supply boats on June 17.
Philippine military officials said Chinese coast guard personnel were carrying knives and spears, looted firearms, “deliberately punctured” Philippine boats involved in the mission, and that a sailor had lost a finger in the incident.
The Philippines has demanded 60 million pesos (about $1 million) in damages from the Chinese communist regime following that confrontation.
Earlier this month, the Philippines accused the Chinese military of taking “dangerous and provocative actions” by dropping flares in the flight path of a Philippine patrol plane on Aug. 8, endangering the crew, while the Chinese air force insisted its move was “professional” and “justified.”
Catherine Yang and Aaron Pan contributed to this report.
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