Chinese and Philippine ships came close to collision in the South China Sea on Sunday, in yet another sign of continued tensions over contested waters.
(Bloomberg) — Chinese and Philippine ships came close to collision in the South China Sea on Sunday, in yet another sign of continued tensions over contested waters.
The incident, which occurred in the vicinity of Ayungin shoal, saw two Chinese coast guard vessels blocking Philippine patrol boats and “exhibited aggressive tactics,” according to a Philippine coast guard statement Friday.
One of the Chinese vessels carried out “dangerous maneuvers,” putting the ships 50 yards from each other, the Philippines said. “This close proximity posed a significant threat to the safety and security of the Philippine vessel and its crew,” it said.
The two nations have been locked in a territorial dispute in the resource-rich waters, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s government ramping up protests over Beijing’s actions. China has maintained that its presence in the area is legitimate, even after an international tribunal dashed its expansive sea claims in 2016.
The incident happened as the US and the Philippines conduct their largest joint military exercises that are due to end Friday. Marcos’s government has been strengthening its alliance with Washington, recently expanding the US’s access to his nation’s military sites. He’s expected to discuss defense deals with President Joe Biden in a meeting next week.
The Philippine Coast Guard said Friday that it conducted a seven-day patrol in the South China Sea through Monday upon Marcos’s directive. It also reported a separate “confrontation” with a Chinese Navy vessel near Pag-asa Island on April 21. The Chinese ship reportedly told Philippine vessels over the radio to leave the area, and that failure to comply might “cause problem.”
Around a hundred Chinese maritime militia vessels are in the vicinity of Julian Felipe Reef at the same time, according to a report by Philippine state television PTV. It also showed coast guard personnel from both countries exchanging radio challenges and asking each other to leave the disputed waters.
(Adds more details from Coast Guard statement throughout.)
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.