“Illegally Intruded”: China Accuses Philippines Of Hitting Its Vessel In South China Sea (image-X/jaytaryela)
On June 17, a Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided in the disputed South China Sea. The incident has sparked alarm amid escalating territorial tensions between the two countries.
China’s coast guard said that the Philippine vessel “illegally intruded” near the submerged reef in the Spratly Islands called the Second Thomas Shoal. It is part of a territory claimed by many countries. The coast guard stated the Philippine supply ship had ignored repeated warnings and approached the Chinese coast guard vessel, which resulted in a slight collision.
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The chief of the Philippine armed forces’ public affairs office, Xerxes Trinidad, called the claims “deceptive and misleading” before adding that the military will not discuss operational details of resupply missions. Trinidad, in turn, accused China of its illegal presence and actions within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A few hours later, the United States released a statement announcing the completion of a two-day joint naval exercise in the Philippines’ EEZ with the militaries of Japan, the Philippines, and Canada within the EEZ in the South China Sea.
Although a 2016 international tribunal ruled that China’s claim had no merit, Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by Indonesia, Brunei, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia.
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The two countries have been engaged in a quarrel over collisions in the region for several months. On June 15, enforcing a 2021 law, China issued fresh rules allowing its coastguards to use lethal force against foreign vessels in its claimed territory. Under the rules, the coastguard can detain trespassers without trial for over 60 days.
The Philippine Coast Guard, meanwhile, ordered two vessels to be deployed for patrolling to ensure its fishermen’s safety in a region about 640 kilometres away from Second Thomas Shoal called Scarborough Shoal.
