Philippines Strongly Condemns China for Dangerous South China Sea Encounter
In a recent incident that has raised concerns in the South China Sea, a Chinese coast guard ship narrowly avoided colliding with a Philippine patrol ship. The incident occurred near Second Thomas Shoal, an area claimed by both the Philippines and China, adding to the ongoing territorial disputes in the region.
Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela strongly criticized China’s actions, stating, “We condemn the behavior of the Chinese coast guard vessel. They have been violating international law, particularly the collision regulations.” He further revealed that the Philippine ship had to rapidly reverse its engine to prevent a collision, with the Chinese ship coming as close as just a meter.
This alarming encounter is regarded as the closest and most dangerous maneuver by a Chinese coast guard ship against a Philippine patrol ship to date. Notably, several journalists, including those from The Associated Press, were present to witness the incident as part of the Philippine coast guard’s efforts to expose aggressive Chinese actions in the South China Sea.
The Chinese coast guard responded to the incident by asserting that the Philippine vessels had entered the waters “without permission from the Chinese government.” They claimed that the Philippines was transporting building materials to a “grounded” military boat and issued a stern warning to the Philippine vessels.
This encounter comes on the heels of another incident where a Philippine coast guard vessel was blocked and surrounded by Chinese coast guard and militia ships for approximately eight hours. The tensions began when a Chinese coast guard ship closely followed the Philippine vessels heading to Second Thomas Shoal and subsequently formed a blockade, which included militia ships and at least one navy warship.
Despite these confrontations, two smaller supply boats, escorted by the Philippine coast guard, managed to breach the Chinese blockade and deliver essential supplies to a Filipino marine outpost at the disputed shoal.
The ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea have involved not only the Philippines and China but also other nations like Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. The region has become a focal point in the rivalry between the United States and China, with the U.S. pledging to defend the Philippines as its treaty ally.
In this tense environment, incidents like the recent encounter near Second Thomas Shoal underscore the need for peaceful resolution and international cooperation in the South China Sea.