Philippines: The Philippines has repeated its call on China to stop its “provocative actions” in the South China Sea. Manila summoned the Chinese ambassador after two near collisions between Chinese and Filipino ships over the weekend.
The collision near Second Thomas Shoal, which lies within Manila’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), occurred as the Philippines tried to resupply sailors on the Sierra Madre, a ship it grounded there in 1999.
Mr. Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the Philippines National Security Council, told a press conference that one of the Philippines’s boats was damaged in the incident, although nobody on board was injured.
Coast Guard Commodore Mr. Jay Tarriela told reporters the damage amounted to “more than a scratch,” and it will be closely assessed once the ship is back in port.
Beijing also stated that there had been a “near collision” between the ships but said it was the Philippines’s fault.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the vessels were travelling “headlong” towards the lagoon, and the Chinese ships took “professional and restrained” action to “uphold China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”. The Ministry added that it would continue to take such actions in defence of its “maritime rights”.
Manila further remarked that the Chinese vessel engaged in “dangerous blocking manoeuvres” and said a Philippine coastguard vessel escorting the resupply boat was also “bumped” by a ship from China’s maritime militia.
“The unsafe manoeuvres on October 22 and the PRC water cannoning of a Philippines’ vessel on August 5 are the latest examples of provocative PRC measures in the South China Sea to enforce its expansive and unlawful maritime claims, reflecting disregard for other states lawfully operating in the region,” a US State Department spokesperson said in a statement.
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