BEIJING – China and the Philippines have once again exchanged accusations of ramming each other’s ships in the disputed South China Sea, marking the latest in a series of escalating tensions in the region on August 31.
The Chinese Coast Guard accused a Philippine ship, allegedly “illegally stranded” at the Sabina Shoal, of lifting anchor and “deliberately ramming” a Chinese vessel. In contrast, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) claimed that a Chinese vessel “intentionally rammed” one of its ships during the incident.
The South China Sea is a vital waterway where approximately US$3 trillion (S$3.9 trillion) worth of trade passes annually. It is also a region rich in oil, natural gas deposits, and fish stocks. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping with areas claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea had no legal basis, a ruling that Beijing has consistently rejected.
Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China’s Coast Guard, urged the Philippines to withdraw from the Sabina Shoal immediately, stating that the Chinese Coast Guard would take necessary measures to thwart any acts of “provocation, nuisance, and infringement” to protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman, Commodore Jay Tarriela, countered by accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of ignoring collision regulations and performing dangerous maneuvers that led to the incident. He confirmed that the collision caused damage but reported no injuries. The shoal where the incident occurred lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
This incident highlights the ongoing and intensifying disputes in the South China Sea, where both nations continue to assert their territorial claims.