Manila yesterday said that Chinese vessels “intentionally hit” Philippine boats at the weekend, escalating a diplomatic row over two collisions in the South China Sea.
The countries have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near the Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙), with both sides filing diplomatic protests and releasing video footage to support their accusations.
The two collisions happened during a Philippine resupply mission to troops stationed on a navy vessel that was grounded on the shoal in 1999 to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
Photo: EPA-EFE via the Philippine Presidential Communications Office
Philippine officials accused a China Coast Guard ship and a “militia” vessel of “dangerous maneuvering” that resulted in collisions with a Philippine resupply boat and a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro took it one step further yesterday, labeling the Chinese actions near the Second Thomas Shoal deliberate.
“Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels, in blatant violation of international law, harassed and intentionally hit Unaiza May 2 and Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Cabra,” Teodoro said.
“We are here to really decry in the strongest possible terms this egregious violation and illegal act within the [Philippines’] 200 nautical mile [370.4km[ exclusive economic zone and the obfuscation of the truth by China’s distorting the story to fit its own ends,” he said.
His comments came hours after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos met with security officials and ordered the coast guard to investigate the incident, which was “being taken seriously at the highest level of government,” his communications team said.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning (毛寧) accused the Philippines of “continuing to spread false information and hype things up.”
Earlier yesterday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s ambassador to Manila and lodged a diplomatic protest over the incident.
Department spokeswoman Teresita Daza said the ambassador was unavailable and was represented by his deputy chief of mission.
Manila’s longtime ally Washington has led a chorus of international criticism of China’s alleged interference in the resupply mission.
The US Department of State on Sunday reiterated that its mutual defense pact with the Philippines “extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, and aircraft — including those of its Coast Guard — anywhere in the South China Sea.”
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