China and the Philippines have once again accused each other of deliberately causing a collision between coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, the latest in a series of recent incidents in disputed waters.
The incident took place in the waters near Sabina Bank in the eastern part of the South China Sea and was – as reported by Reuters – the fifth confrontation in the disputed waters between China and Philippines in the last month.
Beijing maintains that its jurisdiction extends almost to the entire South China Sea, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
China's claim, however, is in conflict with international law, as confirmed by a ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016, Reuters recalled. Beijing does not recognize that decision.
The moment of collision of the Chinese and Filipino vessels Philippine Coast Guard
Damage to the 97-meter unit
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela showed footage of Saturday's confrontation at a news conference, saying the unprovoked Chinese Coast Guard ship 5205 “directly and intentionally rammed the Philippine vessel.”
Tarriela said the 97-meter Teresa Magbanua, one of the Philippine Coast Guard's largest cutters, was damaged. The crew was not injured.
South China SeaPAP
“Illegally ran aground”
Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the Chinese coast guard, said in a statement that a Philippine vessel that had “illegally run aground” weighed anchor and “intentionally rammed” the Chinese vessel. Dejun called on the Philippines to immediately withdraw from the area.
“The China Coast Guard will take necessary measures to resolutely thwart any acts of provocation, disruption and violation, and will resolutely safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests,” Liu said in a statement.
Tarriela said the Philippines would not withdraw its cutter despite “harassment, intimidation and escalatory actions by the Chinese Coast Guard.”
Philippine Coast Guard Ship Philippine Coast Guard
Flashpoint
The South China Sea is considered one of East Asia's most controversial points. China claims almost the entire sea as its own territory and has disputes with a number of other countries, including the Philippines, over individual areas of it.
The Sabina Bank, which the Chinese call Xianbin, lies about 120 km off the Philippine island of Palawan. Manila has accused Beijing of trying to build an artificial island there, destroying coral in the process. Chinese authorities deny this.
South China SeaPAP
Main image source: Philippine Coast Guard