China says Philippine vessel deliberately collided with Chinese vessel in South China Sea
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
China's Coast Guard has claimed that a Philippine vessel, which ignored repeated warnings, deliberately collided with a Chinese ship in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, reports Reuters.
In a statement, China’s maritime security agency reported that the same Philippine vessel entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal after being prevented from entering the Sabina Shoal waters.
According to a China Coast Guard spokesperson, two Philippine Coast Guard ships illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Sabina Shoal without permission on Monday morning.
"The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and caused trouble, violated the temporary arrangements between China and the Philippines," Gan said, referring to the Philippines' supply missions to a vessel grounded on Second Thomas Shoal.
The China Coast Guard stated that it took control measures against the Philippine ships according to the law during the incidents early Monday and called on the Philippines to immediately cease violations and provocations or face all consequences.
The Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson did not respond to the agency's request for comment.
Agreement on disputed waters
China and the Philippines reached a temporary agreement in July following repeated disputes over the Second Thomas Shoal. Western countries have sharply criticized China for its aggression, which has obstructed the Philippines' attempts to resupply its military personnel stationed aboard a naval ship at the shoal.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including both shoals, rejecting the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which found that Beijing's expansive claims have no legal basis under international law.
