China, Philippines accuse each other of moving ships in South China Sea By Reuters
Written by Neil Jerome Morales and Joe Cash
Beijing – The Philippines and China have accused each other of deliberately raiding coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday, the latest in a series of tense disputes in the waterway.
The clash near Sabina Shoal was their fifth clash at sea in less than a month in the long-running conflict.
Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Parts of the waterway, through which trade worth three billion dollars passes annually, are believed to be rich in oil and deposits, as well as fish.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found that China's claims had no legal basis, a decision Beijing rejects.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela showed videos of Saturday's confrontation at a press conference, saying the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 5205 “directly and intentionally rammed the Philippine vessel” without provocation.
The miscreants damaged the 97-meter (320-foot) Teresa Magbanua, one of the largest coastal cutters in the Philippines, but no one was injured, Tarriela said.
Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China's coast guard, said in a statement that the Philippine vessel, which was “illegally stranded” in the fishing area, raised its anchor and “deliberately rammed” the Chinese vessel. He called on the Philippines to withdraw immediately or face consequences.
“The Chinese coast guard will take necessary measures to strictly prevent all acts of provocation, disturbance and violation of the law and strictly protect the country's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Liu said.
Tarriela said Manila will not withdraw its ship “despite the torture, bullying and aggressive action of the Chinese security forces”.
THE US IS GETTING THE 'SUFFICIENCE' OF CHINA
The US ambassador to the Philippines expressed Washington's support for the Philippines, which is a treaty partner.
“The US condemns the many serious violations of international law committed by the PRC (People's Republic of China), including today's willful aggression,” said Ambassador MaryKay Carlson on social media X.
The Philippines sent a ship in April to Sabina Shoal, 75 nautical miles from the coast of the Philippine province of Palawan. Manila has accused Beijing of building an artificial island, which it says has documented dozens of deaths and crushed coral reefs in the sandbars, which Beijing denies.
This week, the Philippine Maritime Authority said that Chinese aircraft acted in an unsafe manner when they attacked a civilian aircraft patrolling two other disputed areas, Scarborough Shoal and Subi reef.
The Philippines accused China of obstructing a normal resupply operation on Sunday, saying Chinese vessels breached and used water adversaries on a fisheries office vessel carrying food, fuel and medical supplies for Filipino fishermen.
