Maritime tensions between China and Philippines seems to be intensifying along the South China Sea area with the recent collisions.
Manila on Sunday said the collision occurred during a routine resupply mission of a boat contracted by the Philippine armed forces. While China’s coast guard said in a statement the Philippine vessel ignored “repeated warnings” and crossed the bow of the Chinese ship that “deliberately provoked trouble”, causing the collision.
Recently, both the nations had run-ins in areas of the South China Sea. Philippines has been sending supplies to troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal, known as the Second Thomas Shoal, in Spartly Islands chain. China’s coast guard repeatedly intervened to block the resupply missions, alleged Philippines.
This image released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shows a Chinese militia vessel, top, near Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Cabra as they approach Second Thomas Shoal, locally called Ayungin Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea | AP
Chinese Coast Guard ship carried out “dangerous blocking maneuvers” that caused it to collide with the Philippine vessel carrying supplies to troops, said Philippines in a statement.
China's move was "provocative, irresponsible and illegal" and “imperiled the safety of the crew” of the Philippine boats, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said, reported Reuters.
Experts opine Manila's close ties with the US had paved way for intensifying tensions with Beijing. The Pentagon had said that it would protect Philippines of its coast guard came under attack "anywhere in the South China Sea".
The Canadian and Japanese embassies also expressed support for Philippines over the collision.
Over the recent collisions, the United States extended support to Philippines denouncing China's "disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission".
Taking to X, Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said "we stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting Philippine sovereignty."
The United States condemns PRC’s latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk. We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting 🇵🇭 sovereignty and in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific.
— Ambassador MaryKay L. Carlson (@USAmbPH) October 22, 2023
The recent incidents and its repetition were termed as “dangerous” and “very disturbing” by the European Union.
Beijing claims to have sovereignty over almost entire South China Sea including parts if the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. However, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims were baseless with no legal backing.
China’s coast guard said that the collision occurred while blocking the boat from transporting “illegal construction materials” to the warship.
Manila responded by condemning "in the strongest degree" the "dangerous blocking manoeuvres" of the Chinese vessel. China's "dangerous, irresponsible and illegal actions" were "in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction", Manila's Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.
