China, Philippines again accuse each other of ramming ships near disputed shoal
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A Chinese Coast Guard ship is seen from a Philippine Coast Guard vessel during a supply mission to Sabina Shoal on Aug 26.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
BEIJING – China and the Philippines again traded accusations of ramming each other’s ships in a disputed area of the South China Sea on Aug 31, the latest in an escalating series of clashes in the vital waterway.
The China Coast Guard said a Philippine ship, “illegally stranded” at the Sabina Shoal, lifted anchor and “deliberately rammed” a Chinese vessel, while the Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese vessel “intentionally rammed” one of its ships.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Portions of the waterway, where US$3 trillion (S$3.9 trillion) worth of trade passes annually, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China’s sweeping claims had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.
Mr Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China’s coast guard, called on the Philippines in a statement to withdraw immediately from the shoal.
“The Chinese coast guard will take the measures required to resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Mr Liu said.
The Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesman, Commodore Jay Tarriela, told reporters the China Coast Guard ignored collision regulations and carried out dangerous manoeuvres, resulting in damage but that no injuries were reported.
Sabina Shoal is located 140km west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200km from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese landmass.
Philippine and Chinese vessels have collided at least twice in August near Sabina
The discovery of piles of crushed coral at the shoal ignited suspicion in Manila that Beijing was planning to build another permanent base there, which would be its closest outpost to the Philippine archipelago.
Recent clashes between Philippine and Chinese vessels have also taken place around Second Thomas Shoal.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in a clash there in June
Sabina Shoal is also the rendezvous point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison on Second Thomas Shoal.
The repeated confrontations prompted Manila to brand Beijing the “biggest disruptor” to peace in South-east Asia at a defence conference in August. REUTERS, AFP
