Chinese and Philippine ships collide in South China Sea – DW – 08/19/2024

Chinese and Philippine ships collided on Monday during a standoff near a disputed island in the South China Sea, Chinese state media said.

The Thomas II Coast was the site of frequent confrontations between Beijing and Manila.

What did China say about the collision?

Beijing has accused a Philippine ship of “deliberately colliding” with a Chinese vessel.

“Despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side, Philippine ship 4410 deliberately collided with Chinese ship 21551,” China’s state broadcaster CCTV quoted Chinese coast guard spokesman Geng Yu as saying.

“The Philippine coast guard ships illegally entered waters near the Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” China Central Television reported, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Reef and the Spratly Islands. China accused the Philippine ships of acting “in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a sudden collision.”

The Chinese Coast Guard said it took surveillance measures against the Philippine ships “in accordance with the law.”

The Philippines called for an “immediate end to the violation and provocation” or “will bear all the consequences.”

How did the Philippines react?

Meanwhile, the Philippine government said two of its ships were damaged in the collision, blaming “illegal and aggressive maneuvers” by China.

“These dangerous maneuvers resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to the two Philippine Coast Guard vessels,” said Jonathan Malaya, spokesman for the National Security Council and the South China Sea Task Force in Manila.

Manila said the Coast Guard ships, Cape Engano and Pajacay, were on their way to provide supplies to personnel stationed on Flat Island.

Cape Engano collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel at around 3:24 a.m. local time on Monday (1924 UTC Sunday), according to the Philippines.

Manila said the Chinese coast guard ship “rammed” the Pagakay twice about 16 minutes later.

What is the South China Sea dispute?

China claims most of the South China Sea, including the Thomas Shoal Islands. Several Southeast Asian countries have also made conflicting and sometimes overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

Beijing has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that said China’s claims were without basis under international law.

In July, China and the Philippines reached a “temporary arrangement” aimed at ending naval confrontations near the Second Thomas Islands, allowing Manila to resupply the island.

In 1999, the Philippines deliberately sank the Sierra Madre off the coast of Tomas II in order to assert Manila’s sovereignty over the area. Filipino troops are stationed on the ship’s wreckage and need regular resupply.

Earlier this month, the Philippines held joint naval exercises with the United States, Canada and Australia in the South China Sea. Days later, the Philippines held its first-ever joint exercises with Vietnam despite the two countries’ conflicting claims over the Spratly Islands.

sdi/msh (Reuters, AFP, AP)