Philippines says a coast guard ship and provide boat are hit by Chinese language vessels close to disputed shoal

MANILA, Philippines — A Chinese language coast guard ship and considered one of its militia vessels individually bumped a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run provide boat Sunday off a disputed shoal, Philippine officers mentioned.

They didn’t say if there have been accidents or injury.

The Philippine authorities condemned the incident in “the strongest diploma” and referred to as it a violation of Manila’s sovereignty, the officers mentioned.

A Philippine authorities process drive mentioned the collisions occurred off Second Thomas Shoal as two Philippine provide boats escorted by two Philippine coast guard ships had been heading to ship food and different provides to the atoll within the face of a years-long Chinese language blockade.

Close to-collisions have occurred steadily as Philippine vessels frequently ship provides to Filipino marines and sailors stationed on the disputed shoal. However this was the primary time Philippine officers have reported their nation’s vessels being hit by China‘s ships.

The shoal is among the most fiercely contested areas within the busy South China Sea, the place China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have had overlapping territorial claims for many years.