South China Sea: Broken Agreement? Ships Began Ramming Each Other on the High Seas

The incident occurred Monday morning in waters near Sabina Bank in the eastern part of the South China Sea. This area is within the exclusive economic zone Philippineslocated 120 kilometers from the Philippine island of Palawan and about a thousand kilometers from the southernmost Chinese island of Hainan.

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The Chinese Coast Guard on Monday accused the Philippine vessel of ignoring its warnings and “intentionally hitting” the Chinese vessel, calling it “unprofessional and dangerous” conduct on the water. A spokesman for the Chinese Coast Guard said the Chinese vessels had been operating within the law at all times, but did not specify which law. Chinese state media also released a short video of the collision, but it did not identify which ship caused it.

Meanwhile, the Philippines presented a different course of events, accusing To China “imposing their version of events.” According to Philippine National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malay, two Philippine coast guard vessels encountered “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” by an unspecified number of Chinese vessels. “These dangerous maneuvers led to several collisions, causing structural damage to both Philippine vessels,” he said.

The Philippines said its two damaged Coast Guard ships were the BRP Cape Engano and the BRP Bogacay. Both were carrying supplies for crews stationed at Philippine outposts on Patag (Flat Island) and Lawak (Nanshan Island) when the Chinese ships approached. First, one collided with the Cape Engano, and fifteen minutes later, the Chinese ships allegedly rammed the Bogacay twice. Holes were found in the sides of both Philippine ships, with the Bogacay having a diameter of one meter. “This is the largest structural damage we have sustained as a result of dangerous maneuvers by the Chinese Coast Guard,” said Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela.

The actions of the Chinese ships have already been criticized by the ambassador USA in Manila.

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China and the Philippines reached an “interim agreement” in July to ease tensions in the disputed South China Sea area after repeated incidents near Second Thomas Shoal. China was sharply criticized by Western countries at the time for blocking Philippine efforts to supply troops at its outpost in the region. Beijing claims jurisdiction extends to most of the South China Sea and has been rapidly expanding its military presence there, sending ships and building bases on artificial islands. But that claim violates international law, as confirmed by a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016. After the ruling went against it, China said it would not recognize it.