China, Philippines to blame for trade clash | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

TAIPEI, Taiwan — China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a collision between their two ships on Saturday, in the latest flare-up of tensions over disputed waters and maritime features in the South China Sea.

In a statement posted on social media, Chinese coast guard spokesman Liu Dejun said a Philippine vessel maneuvered and “deliberately collided” with a Chinese coast guard vessel “in a unprofessional and dangerous manner”.

Philippine officials in Manila said their coast guard vessel, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, was hit three times by the Chinese coast guard without provocation, causing damage to the Philippine vessel.

It was the second confrontation in as many days near Sabina Shoal, about 85 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan, in the Philippines’ internationally recognized exclusive economic zone.

The Philippine ship Magbanua has been docked in Sabina since mid-April after Manila suspected China might build a structure to occupy the uninhabited atoll. China harbored the same suspicions and recently lodged a diplomatic protest against the Philippines over the ship’s prolonged presence at the shoal.

China is rapidly expanding its military and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial for international trade. The tensions have led to more frequent clashes, primarily with the Philippines, and could draw in the United States, which is bound by a treaty to defend the Philippines. Long-running territorial disputes also involve other claimants, including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

China rejected a ruling by a UN-backed arbitration panel that rejected almost all of its historically based claims in the South China Sea.

Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine Coast Guard told a press briefing in Manila that the Magbanua has dropped anchor again and will not withdraw from Sabina Shoal “despite harassment, intimidation activities and escalated actions by the Chinese Coast Guard “.

Video released by the Philippine Coast Guard appears to show the Magbanua being hit by a Chinese coast guard vessel.

The United States condemned “the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC (People’s Republic of China), including today’s deliberate strike on BRP Teresa Magbanua while she was conducting legal operations in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.”

“We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law,” US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The United States has repeatedly warned that it is bound to defend the Philippines if Philippine forces come under armed attack in the South China Sea.

Tuesday, Adm. Samuel Paparo, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said the US military is open to consultations on escorting Philippine ships in the disputed waters.

China’s coast guard, navy and accompanying vessels regularly clash with Philippine vessels during attempts to supply Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. As the clashes become increasingly hostile, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to their ships, the Philippine government has faced questions about its invocation of the alliance treaty with Washington.

Sabina Shoal is close to Second Thomas Shoal, another flashpoint where China has prevented the resupply of Philippine forces. Both countries reached an agreement in July to prevent further clashes at the bench.

Also on Saturday, Japan lodged a formal protest through the Chinese embassy against what it called an incursion by a Chinese inspection vessel into its territorial waters. The latest such incident has fueled unease among Japanese defense officials already worried about growing military cooperation between the Chinese and Russian air forces.

On Monday, Tokyo also protested against a Chinese military aircraft briefly entering Japan’s southwestern airspace. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tuesday that his country has “no intention” of violating any country’s airspace.

Information for this article was provided by Jim Gomez and Yuri Kageyama of the Associated Press.