China is accusing the Philippines of a serious incident in the South China Sea. A Philippine ship deliberately collided with a Chinese ship, said Chinese coast guard spokesman Gan Yu on Sunday. The incident occurred near the Sabina Reef. China called on the Philippines to refrain from provocations or “face all consequences.” The Philippine coast guard did not initially respond to a request from the Reuters news agency.
According to China’s maritime safety authority, the same Philippine ship later headed for an area disputed between the two countries near the Second Thomas Reef. “The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and stirred up trouble and violated the temporary agreements between China and the Philippines,” Gan said.
The Philippine government said two Philippine Coast Guard vessels were damaged in the collision with Chinese ships, which had carried out illegal and aggressive maneuvers.
The Philippines’ task force responsible for the region called on China to “exercise restraint and comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international laws to prevent further escalations and ensure the safety of all vessels operating in the region.”
China and the Philippines reached a provisional agreement in July after tensions erupted at the Second Thomas Reef. China had been criticized by Western countries for blocking Philippine aid efforts for a naval vessel that was deliberately grounded there 25 years ago. The ship serves as a base for the Philippine outpost that is used to maintain its territorial claim.
The dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea has existed for years. China claims almost the entire area, including the two reefs mentioned above. A ruling by the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016, which declared China’s far-reaching claims to be contrary to international law, is not recognized by the government in Beijing.
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China is accusing the Philippines of a serious incident in the South China Sea. A Philippine ship deliberately collided with a Chinese ship, said Chinese coast guard spokesman Gan Yu on Sunday. The incident occurred near the Sabina Reef. China called on the Philippines to refrain from provocations or “face all consequences.” The Philippine coast guard did not initially respond to a request from the Reuters news agency.
According to China’s maritime safety authority, the same Philippine ship later headed for an area disputed between the two countries near the Second Thomas Reef. “The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and stirred up trouble and violated the temporary agreements between China and the Philippines,” Gan said.
