China-Philippines clash escalates in South China Sea collision

Over the weekend, another incident involving the coast guard ships of China and the Philippines occurred in the South China Sea. Both countries accuse each other of deliberately ramming their vessels. Footage presented by the Philippine Coast Guard indicates that the Chinese ship deliberately struck the stern of the Philippine vessel.

The incident in the South China Sea near Sabina Shoal occurred on Saturday. Two coast guard vessels—one from China and one from the Philippines—collided. It was the fifth incident in the disputed waters in a month.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela showed footage of the collision at a press conference, asserting that the Chinese vessel, unprovoked, "directly and deliberately rammed the Philippine vessel."

"One of the largest Philippine coast guard cutters was damaged," Tarriela stated.

Meanwhile, Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Liu Dejun stated that the Philippine vessel was in those waters illegally and "deliberately rammed" the Chinese ship.

"The Chinese Coast Guard will take necessary measures to firmly thwart any acts of provocation, interference, and violation and will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests," Liu warned.

Tarriela stated that the Philippines would not withdraw its cutter despite "harassment, intimidation, and escalatory actions by the Chinese coast guard."

The United States condemned the "dangerous and escalatory" actions of China against— as described in a statement by the State Department—legal Philippine operations in the South China Sea on Saturday, Eastern Time.

"A Chinese coast guard vessel deliberately collided with a Philippine coast guard vessel (...) causing damage to the (Philippine) ship and jeopardizing the safety of its crew," stated State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

The South China Sea is considered one of the most volatile points in East Asia. China claims almost the entire sea as its own territory and is in conflict with several other countries, including the Philippines, over specific areas.

In 2016, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that China's claims have no basis in international law, but Beijing rejected the decision.

Sabina Shoal, which the Chinese call Xianbin, lies about 75 miles from the Philippine island of Palawan. Manila accused Beijing of attempting to create a man-made island there, destroying coral reefs in the process. The PRC authorities deny this.