The Philippines and China have accused each other of dangerous maneuvers and causing a collision in contested waters in the South China Sea, the latest in a string of maritime confrontations between the two countries that have heightened regional tensions.
In a statement shared on X, spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela says that Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels had “harassed, blocked and executed dangerous maneuvers on Philippine civilian supply vessels – in another attempt to illegally impede or obstruct a routine resupply and rotation mission” to the Second Thomas Shoal.
The Philippine Coast Guard says at least two of its vessels had been damaged as a result of being fired on by water cannon.
However, the Chinese Coast Guard said Philippine ships had “illegally intruded” in its waters and it was taking “control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law.”
It says a Philippine vessel had “ignored numerous warnings from China” and “deliberately swerved and collided in an unprofessional, dangerous manner” with a Chinese boat.
The Chinese Coast Guard says the responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines.
Maritime disputes across the vast South China Sea have ratcheted up in recent years as an increasingly assertive China militarizes disputed islands and confronts its regional rivals over their competing claims in the strategically important and resource-rich waterway.
Beijing claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea, as well as most of the islands and sandbars within it, including many features that are hundreds of miles from the Chinese mainland.
The waterway is vital to international trade and is also home to vast fertile fishing grounds upon which many lives and livelihoods depend.
[Source: CNN]
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