The Philippines and China exchanged accusations on Sunday regarding the collision of their vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea amid rising tensions over sovereignty claims to the vital waterway. The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of firing water cannons at two supply vessels, colliding with them in the South China Sea, causing "significant damage to the engine" of one vessel, while the Chinese Coast Guard claimed that the Philippine vessel intentionally collided with the Chinese ship.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which sees annual shipping trade valued at over three trillion dollars, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's claims have no legal basis.
Beijing and Manila have been engaged in a cat-and-mouse game over the uninhabited Second Thomas Shoal in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone when the Philippines dispatches supply missions to its soldiers living aboard an old warship that deliberately ran aground in 1999 to assert Manila's maritime claims.
The Philippines accused China yesterday of committing "illegal and aggressive acts" by firing water cannons at a government fishing vessel operated by civilians, a move that Beijing regarded as "legitimate regulatory measures." Regarding today's incident, the Chinese Coast Guard stated that two Philippine vessels ignored repeated warnings and "illegally entered waters adjacent to the Ren'ai Reef in the Spratly Islands without the Chinese government's approval." It added that "the vessel Unaiza May 1 suddenly and dangerously and unprofessionally turned, intentionally colliding with Chinese Coast Guard vessel 21556." The Chinese side held the Philippines fully responsible for the incident.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Guy Trella wrote on social media platform X: "The engine of M/L Kalyan was severely damaged. Contrary to the misleading information announced by the Chinese Coast Guard, the CCG vessel collided with the U/M 1." A task force under the Philippine government condemned China's "recent violent and unjustified actions and dangerous maneuvers against the legitimate and routine supply mission." The statement remarked that "China's actions raise significant doubts about the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue."
Conversely, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea stated that "a Coast Guard vessel was towing the Kalyan back to Palawan, and the BRP Cabra suffered damage to its mast after being directly targeted with full force by the water cannon."
