A screen capture from a YouTube video shared by Manila Standard has highlighted rising tensions between China and the Philippines. This situation intensified following several confrontations in the contested waters of the South China Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard has accused a Chinese coast guard vessel, identified as 5205, of deliberately ramming into one of its largest cutters, the 97-meter long Teresa Magbanua. Fortunately, while the vessel sustained damage, no crew members were injured, according to officials.
During a recent press briefing, the Philippines released video footage of the incident, asserting that the Chinese action was unprovoked. In contrast, the Chinese coast guard claimed that the Philippine ship had illegally anchored at the shoal and, upon lifting its anchor, purposely collided with a Chinese vessel. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Philippine ship and cautioned that necessary measures would be taken to counter any provocations.
A Chinese official emphasized that their coast guard would staunchly protect the nation's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights. This incident marks the fifth encounter between Chinese and Philippine vessels in just the past month. Just a day prior, another confrontation occurred around a reef in the Spratly Islands. The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources reported that the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons and sideswiped one of its research vessels, the Datu Sanday, along with another ship. They condemned this act as aggressive interference, noting it was the first time their vessels had faced water cannon attacks in that part of the sea.
The Chinese Coast Guard responded by stating that the Philippine vessels had illegally entered waters near Subi Reef and Sandy Cay. They also accused the Philippines of attempting to land personnel on Sandy Cay. Video footage from Manila Standard on YouTube indicates that Chinese officials deemed their actions as lawful and professional, placing the blame for the collision on the Philippine vessel for approaching one of their ships despite repeated warnings. However, there was no mention of the use of water cannons in their statement.
US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, criticized China's actions as aggressive, warning that they recklessly endangered lives and threatened the region's stability. Sandy Cay is located near Thitu Island, which holds significant strategic importance as the largest of the nine outposts occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly archipelago. This area is also claimed in parts by China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, and Taiwan. Last month, China stated that its Coast Guard had landed on Sandy Cay to assert sovereignty, a claim that the Philippines vehemently denied.
Meanwhile, in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's expansive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis under international law, a ruling that Beijing continues to dismiss. Additionally, the Philippine maritime council reported this week that Chinese aircraft executed dangerous maneuvers near a civilian plane conducting patrols over Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef. On Sunday, the Philippines accused China of obstructing a resupply mission for Filipino fishermen, stating that a vessel from the Philippine fisheries bureau, carrying food, fuel, and medical supplies, was rammed and hit with water cannons by Chinese ships.
In April, Manila sent a ship to Sabina Shoal, located about 140 kilometers from Palawan province and approximately 1,200 kilometers from China's Hainan Island. Philippine officials have accused China of attempting to construct an artificial island in the area, claiming they found piles of dead and damaged coral on the sandbars, which they believe indicate early island development efforts—an assertion that Beijing denies.
Despite the ongoing conflicts, Philippine officials have stated that they will not withdraw their ships from these disputed areas. They have criticized what they describe as China’s harassment, bullying tactics, and threatening actions. The South China Sea remains a significant hotspot, not just for territorial disputes but also due to its strategic importance, with an estimated $3 trillion worth of global trade passing through it annually. The area is believed to contain vast reserves of oil and gas, as well as rich fish stocks.
Reference: abcNet, interaksyon, Philstar
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