South China Sea: Two Philippine and Chinese ships collide in disputed waters

A Philippine boat and a Chinese ship collided near a disputed reef, in the latest territorial dispute between the two countries in the South China Sea.

The Philippines said China “harassed, blocked and carried out dangerous maneuvers.”

This comes a day after the Philippines accused China of using water cannons to block three of its ships.

The South China Sea is at the heart of the territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.

The Philippines said on Sunday that China targeted Philippine civilian supply ships in the Second Thomas Shoal area in the Spratly Islands, a point of tension between the two countries.

The National Task Force for the Western Philippine Sea said in a statement that one of the two boats carrying supplies was “hit” by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel.

China was also accused of causing “serious damage” to a boat’s engine after using water cannons.

But the Chinese Coast Guard accused the Philippine boat of “deliberately colliding” with the Chinese ship after “ignoring our multiple stern warnings.”

This comes after the Philippines accused China of using war cannons to block three of its ships on Saturday, in what it described as “illegal and aggressive” actions. Beijing said it used what it called “surveillance measures” on ships that infiltrated its waters.

Disagreement between the two countries over competing claims to sovereignty has grown since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president of the Philippines last year.

Last month, the Philippines carried out two separate joint air and sea patrols with the United States, and with Australia a few days ago.

An international court invalidated China’s claim to 90% of the South China Sea in 2016, but Beijing does not recognize the ruling and has been building islands in the disputed waters in recent years.

The disputed waters have also become a maritime flashpoint in Sino-US relations, and in October, US President Joe Biden warned that the US would defend the Philippines in the event of an attack.

President Biden’s statements came days after a collision between two Filipino and Chinese ships in the waters.

Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also claim parts of the sea.