Beijing alleged that the ship had “illegally trespassed into the waters near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands.”
A Philippine ship collided with a Chinese vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea, as confirmed by the Chinese Coast Guard.
Known as the Ren’ai Reef in Chinese, the Second Thomas Shoal hosts a garrison of Philippine troops stationed on a grounded navy vessel, the Sierra Madre, to assert Manila’s territorial claims in the area.
Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships have been frequent, particularly during Philippine attempts to resupply the garrison.
Situated approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and over 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island, the shoal remains a focal point of tensions.
The Chinese coast guard stated that a Philippine resupply ship in the vicinity had disregarded numerous warnings from the Chinese side. This disregard led to an “unprofessional” approach toward the Chinese vessel, resulting in the collision, as per the statement.
Accusing the Philippine ship of illegally intruding into the sea near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands, the Chinese Coast Guard asserted that they took appropriate control measures in accordance with the law.
China’s claims over the vast expanse of the South China Sea, contrary to competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, have been met with international skepticism.
To enforce its claims, China has deployed coast guard and other vessels in the region, converting several reefs into militarized artificial islands.
Recently, Manila accused Chinese boats of unlawfully seizing food and medicine meant for the Philippine outpost at the Second Thomas Shoal. This marked the first instance of supplies being confiscated, according to the military.
In response, China defended its actions, contending that the Sierra Madre was illegally grounded on the reef, urging the Philippines to cease its provocations.
Condemnation of China’s actions in the South China Sea has been voiced by the Group of Seven bloc, denouncing what it labeled as “dangerous” incursions.
These confrontations between China and the Philippines have sparked concerns of a broader conflict involving the United States and other allies, given the strategic importance of the South China Sea for global trade and its vast energy resources.
