Philippines, China trade blame for collision in disputed waters
The Hindu
A Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a hotly contested reef, with both countries trading blame for the latest such confrontation in the disputed South China Sea.
A Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship collided near a hotly contested reef on December 10, with both countries trading blame for the latest such confrontation in the disputed South China Sea.
The incident happened during a Philippine resupply mission to a tiny garrison on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, which is a flashpoint for Manila and Beijing.
It comes a day after the Philippines accused the Chinese coast guard of using water cannons to "obstruct" three government boats delivering provisions to Filipino fishermen near Scarborough Shoal, off the main island of Luzon.
Longstanding tensions between Manila and Beijing over the sea have flared in recent months following multiple incidents involving Philippine and Chinese vessels, including two previous collisions.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands near the shores of its neighbours, and has ignored an international tribunal ruling that its assertions have no legal basis.
It deploys boats to patrol the busy waterway and has built artificial islands that it has militarised to reinforce its claims.
The Philippines said Sunday that "China Coast Guard and Chinese Maritime Militia vessels harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous manoeuvres on Philippine civilian supply vessels".
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