Â鶹ӰÊÓ

Skip to main content

Philippines, China trade blame after vessels collide in South China Sea

Share
BEIJING/MANILA -

The Philippines and China accused each other on Monday of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea, the latest flare-up after the two nations agreed last month to try to manage disagreements at sea.

China's Coast Guard said in a statement a Philippine vessel which had ignored its repeated warnings had "deliberately collided" with a Chinese vessel in an "unprofessional and dangerous" manner in the disputed waterway early on Monday.

The Philippines disputed Beijing's account and accused it of "imposing its version of facts." It said two of its coast guard vessels "encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" from Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal, while on their way to supply Filipino personnel stationed in two occupied islands.

"These dangerous maneuvers resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) vessels," said Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the national security council and Manila's South China Sea task force.

At a regular news briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters that China would continue to take lawful "resolute and forceful measures" to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

"We hope that the Philippines can keep its commitments (and)earnestly abide by the temporary arrangements reached with China," Mao said.

The United States condemned China's actions. Its ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said on X the U.S. "stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard's dangerous maneuvers," which endangered lives and caused damage to coast guard vessels.

Manila said coast guard vessels Cape Engano and Bagacay were on their way to resupply personnel stationed on Flat Island - which Manila calls Patag - and Lawak Island, which China calls Nanshan, when the confrontation happened near Sabina Shoal.

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE

The collision occurred between the Cape Engano and a Chinese ship at around 3:24 a.m. Monday (1924 GMT Sunday), Manila said.

Around 16 minutes later, a Chinese coast guard ship rammed Manila's Bagacay twice, damaging its auxiliary room, where a 3-foot (1 metre) - wide hole was inflicted, according to Philippine officials and images shared by the PCG.

"This is the biggest structural damage that we have incurred as a result of the dangerous maneuvers carried out by the Chinese Coast Guard," PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela said.

The Chinese Coast Guard posted a short video of the incident which showed what it said was a Philippine coast guard ship "deliberately ramming" with what it said was one of their vessels. Malaya said the video was misleading.

China's maritime security said the same Philippine vessel involved in the collision then entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal after being prevented from entering Sabina Shoal waters.

Sabina Shoal is in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels "illegally intruded" into waters adjacent to Sabina Shoal without permission in the early hours of Monday, according to China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu.

China's Coast Guard said it took control measures against the Philippine ships in accordance with the law and warned the Philippines to "immediately stop infringement and provocation."

The Philippine task force said both of its vessels would continue with their mission to supply personnel on Flat Island.

The incident came less than two weeks after an air incident between the Chinese and Philippines militaries in Scarborough Shoal.

(Reporting by Liz Lee in Beijing and Shanghai newsroom and Karen Lema in Manila; Additional reporting by Eduardo Baptista in Beijing; Editing by Michael Perry and David Holmes)

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

The British Columbia election campaign is set to officially start today, with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin issuing the writ for the Oct. 19 vote.

A northern Ontario man is facing a $12,000 fine after illegally shooting a moose near the Batchawan River.

Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.

A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.

Local Spotlight

Cole Haas is more than just an avid fan of the F.W. Johnson Wildcats football team. He's a fixture on the sidelines, a source of encouragement, and a beloved member of the team.

Getting a photograph of a rainbow? Common. Getting a photo of a lightning strike? Rare. Getting a photo of both at the same time? Extremely rare, but it happened to a Manitoba photographer this week.

An anonymous business owner paid off the mortgage for a New Brunswick not-for-profit.

They say a dog is a man’s best friend. In the case of Darren Cropper, from Bonfield, Ont., his three-year-old Siberian husky and golden retriever mix named Bear literally saved his life.

A growing group of brides and wedding photographers from across the province say they have been taken for tens of thousands of dollars by a Barrie, Ont. wedding photographer.

Paleontologists from the Royal B.C. Museum have uncovered "a trove of extraordinary fossils" high in the mountains of northern B.C., the museum announced Thursday.

The search for a missing ancient 28-year-old chocolate donkey ended with a tragic discovery Wednesday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is celebrating an important milestone in the organization's history: 50 years since the first women joined the force.

It's been a whirlwind of joyful events for a northern Ontario couple who just welcomed a baby into their family and won the $70 million Lotto Max jackpot last month.