BEIJING - China said on Friday that a near-collision in the South China Sea between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists was caused by the latter’s “premeditated and provocative action”.
The near miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a string of tense maritime interactions between the two countries.
The incident occurred as the Philippine coast guard undertook a week-long patrol in the strategic waterway and as Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Manila last weekend to meet his Philippine counterpart and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The incident happened after Philippine coast guard boats approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Ren’ai Jiao.
As one boat neared the shoal, a Chinese coast guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path.
AFP journalists watched the incident from another Philippine coast guard boat, which was less than 1km away.
China claims most of the South China Sea, through which an estimated US$3 trillion (S$4 trillion) worth of goods pass each year.
There are, however, competing territorial claims by countries that surround the sea, including the Philippines and Vietnam.
The Philippines has repeatedly called on Beijing to stop its “aggressive activities” in the area.
The coast guard said that during the April 18 to 24 mission, it identified more than 100 “alleged Chinese maritime militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class and two China coast guard vessels” within the Philippines’ 322km exclusive economic zone.
It added that one Chinese vessel “carried out dangerous manoeuvres” at a distance of about 46m from a Philippine ship.
Two other ships exhibited “aggressive tactics”, posing a “significant threat to the safety and security of the Philippine vessel and its crew”, it added.
Asked about the incident on Friday at a regular press briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Philippine boats had “intruded” without China’s permission.
“The Chinese coast guard vessel safeguarded China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime order, in accordance with the law, while taking timely measures to avoid the dangerous approach of Philippine vessels and to avoid a collision,” said spokesman Mao Ning.
“It was a premeditated and provocative action for the Philippine vessel to barge into the waters of Ren’ai Jiao with journalists on board, the aim was to deliberately find fault and take the opportunity to hype up the incident,” she added.
In February, the Philippine coast guard said a Chinese counterpart ship had directed a “military-grade laser” at one of its ships supporting a resupply mission to troops in the disputed waterway. It said the laser temporarily blinded its crew on the bridge. AFP, REUTERS
