MANILA. Tensions escalated in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday as Philippine officials reported that a Chinese coast guard ship and an accompanying vessel had rammed a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-operated supply boat near a contested shoal. The encounter has raised concerns of a potential armed conflict in the region.
A high-ranking Philippine security official, speaking to The Associated Press, confirmed that there were no injuries among the Filipino crew members, and a damage assessment of both vessels was underway. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to limited authority to discuss the matter publicly, noted that the situation near Second Thomas Shoal, where China has repeatedly attempted to isolate a Philippine marine outpost, could have been far worse if the vessels hadn’t maneuvered rapidly to avoid the Chinese ships.
China’s extensive territorial claims in the South China Sea, including islands closer to the Philippine shore, have led to heightened tensions and have drawn the United States, a long-standing treaty ally of the Philippines, into the dispute.
The U.S. ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, denounced the “PRC’s latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission to Ayungin shoal, putting the lives of Filipino service members at risk.” She used “PRC” as an abbreviation for the People’s Republic of China and referred to the Philippines’ name for Second Thomas Shoal. She emphasized that the United States was standing by its allies to safeguard Philippine sovereignty and support a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine vessels of trespassing into what it claimed were Chinese waters “without authorization,” despite repeated radio warnings, leading to the collisions. It blamed the Philippine vessels for causing the incidents and claimed that the Philippine ships were carrying “illegal construction” materials.
A Philippine government task force dealing with South China Sea issues declared that the collisions took place as two Philippine supply boats, escorted by two Philippine coast guard ships, were en route to deliver supplies, including food, to the military outpost that has been under a Chinese blockade. The task force noted that the actions of the Chinese ships demonstrated “utter blatant disregard” for the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and international regulations aimed at preventing sea collisions.
While near-collisions have occurred frequently as Philippine vessels transport supplies to Filipino marines and sailors stationed on the disputed shoal, this marks the first time that Philippine officials have reported their vessels being struck by China’s ships. In the past, Chinese officials had downplayed claims that the vessels enforcing Beijing’s territorial claims were, in fact, paramilitary ships disguised as fishing boats.
Despite Chinese interference, one of the two boats successfully maneuvered to deliver supplies to the small contingent stationed on the marooned warship, the BRP Sierra Madre, the task force said.
The South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest trade routes, and the territorial disputes involve China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei. These disputes are considered a focal point in the delicate U.S.-China rivalry in the region.
In early August, a Chinese coast guard ship employed a water cannon against one of two Philippine supply boats to deter it from approaching Second Thomas Shoal. This act of aggression sparked outrage from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and led the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila to summon the Chinese ambassador, conveying a strong protest.
In response, Washington reiterated its commitment to defend the Philippines as a treaty ally. However, China accused the U.S. of “threatening China” by raising the possibility of invoking the U.S.-Philippine mutual defense treaty, warning the U.S. not to interfere in regional territorial disputes.
The European Union ambassador to Manila, Luc Veron, expressed concern about the incidents, their repetition, and intensification, deeming them “dangerous and very disturbing.” The EU aligned itself with the Philippines, calling for the full adherence to international law in the South China Sea.
A 2016 arbitration ruling, conducted under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, invalidated Beijing’s claims to virtually the entire South China Sea on historical grounds. Despite the ruling, China declined to participate in the arbitration sought by the Philippines, rejected the decision, and continues to defy it.
CNN contributed to this report.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
