South China sea collision sparks tensions between China and Philippines
The authorities of China and the Philippines have accused each other of deliberately causing a collision between their coast guard ships in the South China Sea. The collision on Saturday near Sabina Shoal was the fifth confrontation in these disputed waters within a month.
31 August 2024 14:19
The spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, Jay Tarriela, presented videos of Saturday's collision at a press conference, asserting that the Chinese ship, unprovoked, "deliberately rammed and collided with the BRP Teresa Magbanua three times." In a post shared on X, photos and a video can be seen:
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Chinese Coast Guard, Liu Dejun, stated that the Philippine vessel was in these waters illegally and "deliberately rammed" the Chinese ship.
"The China Coast Guard will take necessary measures to resolutely thwart any provocative acts of infringement and firmly defend the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," warned Liu.
Tarriela declared that the Philippines would not withdraw their cutter despite harassment, intimidation, and escalating actions of the Chinese Coast Guard.
The South China Sea is considered one of the most volatile areas in East Asia. China claims nearly the entire sea as its own territory and disputes various areas with several other countries, including the Philippines.
In 2016, the International Court of Arbitration ruled that China's claims have no basis in international law, but Beijing rejected this decision.
Sabina Shoal, known as Xianbin to the Chinese, lies about 75 miles from the Philippine island of Palawan. Manila has accused Beijing of attempting to create an artificial island there, destroying corals. Chinese authorities deny these allegations.
