Chinese and Philippine officials have traded accusations over a clash between their ships near a disputed reef in the South China Sea.
The Philippines said a ship belonging to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – the BRP Datu Sanday – “encountered aggressive and dangerous maneuvers from eight Chinese maritime forces” on Sunday while attempting to deliver diesel, food and medical supplies to Filipino fishermen operating near Escoda Shoal.
The shoal, known internationally as Sabina Shoal, lies entirely within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, where Manila holds rights to explore natural resources.
One of the Chinese coast guard ships deliberately rammed the BRP Datu Sanday while others deployed water cannons against it, leading to the failure of its engine failure and “forcing an early termination of the humanitarian operation,” said the Philippine National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea – the name used by Manila for the part of the South China Sea within its EEZ.
"These unprofessional, aggressive, and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve," the task force said in a statement.
Ambassadors of the United States, Australia, the European Union and Japan, quickly spoke in support of Manila and condemned China's "unsafe, unlawful, and aggressive conduct."
Beijing, meanwhile, provided a different account of the event.
Disputed shoal
Chinese media said the China Coast Guard "took restrictive measures against a Philippine vessel that had illegally trespassed into waters off China's Xianbin Jiao," referring to the shoal by its Chinese name. China draws a so-called nine-dash line on maps to claim most of the South China Sea and all the islands and reefs inside it.
Coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu was quoted as saying that the BRP Datu Sanday “ignored stern warnings from the Chinese side and intentionally rammed” into a Chinese ship.
“The Philippine side should take complete responsibility,” Gan said.
Beijing said the vessel was attempting to send supplies to another Philippine ship that China accused of being “illegally anchored” at Sabina Shoal.
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The Philippine Coast Guard Ship 9701, also known as the BRP Teresa Magbanua, has been at the location since April to monitor what the Philippines fears is China’s plan to reclaim land at the shoal.
Coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela told Radio Free Asia this month that the ship was “intentionally deployed to maintain our presence and ensure the protection of this area.”
Given our sovereign rights in these waters, the Philippine coast guard can remain there for as long as necessary,” he said.
Sunday's incident took place just a week after two Philippine coast guard ships sustained "structural damage" after being hit by Chinese vessels, also near Sabina Shoal. The two Philippine ships were passing through the vicinity of the shoal at the time, according to a report by RFA affiliate BenarNews.
In the latest development, on Monday afternoon the Philippines “appeared to be attempting another resupply to BRP Teresa Magbanua at Sabina Shoal with two 44-meter coast guard vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño,” said Ray Powell, a South China Sea watcher at Stanford University in California.
No Chinese response was reported.
Edited by Mike Firn.