China and the Philippines accused one another on Saturday, August 31, of intentionally ramming their coast guard ships close to a sandbank within the South China Sea. | Photograph credit score: Reuters
China and the Philippines accused one another on Saturday (Aug 31, 2024) of intentionally ramming their coast guard vessels close to a sandbank within the South China Sea, the newest in a sequence of comparable incidents in latest weeks.
China claims virtually all the economically important waterway, regardless of claims by different international locations and a global court docket ruling that discovered its declare has no authorized foundation.
A Chinese language coast guard spokesman mentioned Saturday’s incident occurred off the disputed Sabina sandbank, which has change into a brand new flashpoint within the long-running maritime standoff between Manila and Beijing.
The Sabina Sandbank is situated 140 km west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 km from Hainan Island, the closest Chinese language landmass.
Shortly after midday (0400 GMT), a Philippine ship “intentionally collided” with a Chinese language vessel close to the sandbank, recognized in Chinese language as Xianbin, Chinese language Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun mentioned, in keeping with state broadcaster CCTV.
“China workouts indeniable sovereignty” on this space, Liu mentioned, condemning the “unprofessional and harmful” conduct of the Philippine ship.
Nonetheless, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela mentioned it was Chinese language Coast Guard Vessel 5205 that “immediately and deliberately rammed” the 97-meter Philippine ship, BRP Teresa Magbanua.
The ship has been anchored inside Sabina Shoal since April to claim Manila’s declare to the world.
Mr. Tarriela mentioned the assault occurred 3 times, hitting the BRP Teresa Magbanuaport bow, starboard wing and port beam.
No crew members had been injured in the course of the incident, however the ship’s bridge wing and freeboard had been broken. A gap was additionally discovered.
“It is crucial for us to notice that this assault occurred regardless of… our unprovoked motion and our presence at Banco Escoda,” Tarriela instructed reporters, utilizing the Philippine identify for Banco Sabina.
‘Critical concern’
The collision was the fifth incident of Chinese language maritime harassment this month, Tarriela mentioned.
Nationwide Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez mentioned a report on the newest conflict can be despatched to the Philippine Division of International Affairs for evaluate and applicable motion.
“We take this with critical concern,” Lopez mentioned at a information convention.
“We’re there as a matter of legislation as a result of it’s ours, we don’t must ask permission to be on our personal territory. Allow us to be very clear about that,” he mentioned.
Philippine and Chinese language ships have collided close to Sabina Shoal a minimum of twice this month and analysts say Beijing is in search of to push deeper into Manila’s unique financial zone and normalize Chinese language management of the world.
The invention this yr of piles of crushed coral on the financial institution raised suspicions in Manila that Beijing was planning to construct one other everlasting base there, which might be its closest outpost to the Philippine archipelago.
There have additionally been latest clashes between Philippine and Chinese language vessels round Second Thomas Shoal within the Spratly Islands.
A Filipino sailor misplaced a thumb in a confrontation there in June, when Chinese language coast guard members wielding knives, golf equipment and an axe thwarted an try by the Philippine Navy to resupply a small garrison.
Sabina Shoal can be the staging level for Philippine resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal garrison.
The repeated clashes prompted Manila to model Beijing the “greatest disturber” of peace in Southeast Asia at a protection convention this month.
