New Delhi: Chinese and Philippine vessels collided on Monday during a confrontation near a disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, according to reports. Soon after the incident, both the countries started a blame-game.
In the recent months, both the countries have had repeated confrontations in the vital waterway. Beijing has continued to claim almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling stating China’s assertion to be illegal.
China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu said a Philippine vessel had “deliberately collided” with a Chinese ship early on Monday, reported The Guardian. China alleged that the Philippine coast guard vessels had entered the waters near ‘the Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands’ (the Chinese names for Sabina Shoal and the Spratly Islands) without seeking permission from the Chinese government, thus triggering the country’s coast guard to ‘take control measures’ against such activities.
Manila’s National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, meanwhile, said two of its coast guard ships were damaged in collisions with Chinese vessels. It alleged that the Chinese vessels were conducting ‘unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres’ near the disputed zone.
The Sabina Shoal, which is 140km (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan, is more than 1,000km from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island. Manila and Beijing had stationed coast guard vessels around the shoal of late. Philippines fears that China is about to build an artificial island there.
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