The Philippines yesterday criticized a “high-risk” maneuver by a Chinese vessel near the disputed Scarborough Shoal (Huangyan Island, 黃岩島) in a rare incident involving warships from the two navies.
The Scarborough Shoal — a triangular chain of reefs and rocks in the contested South China Sea — has been a flash point between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Taiwan also claims the shoal.
Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Public Affairs Office via AFP
Monday’s encounter took place approximately 11.8 nautical miles (22km) southeast” of the Scarborough Shoal, the Philippine military said, during ongoing US-Philippine military exercises that Beijing has criticized as destabilizing.
“The Chinese frigate BN 554 was documented tailing PS35 [BRP Emilio Jacinto] at close range, while BN 573 dangerously crossed its bow in a high-risk maneuver that created the danger of collision,” the military said in a statement, labeling the incident “threatening and provocative.”
China in response accused Manila of sending a ship to “intrude” into its territorial waters.
Its military said it had sent “naval and air forces to track, monitor, warn and drive away the Philippine boat in accordance with laws and regulations.”
“The relevant remarks of the Philippines side disregarded the facts, confused the public and attempted to mislead international cognition,” said Colonel Tian Junli (田軍里), spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Southern Theater Command.
Philippine Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said the last such encounter between warships from the two navies he could remember was on a resupply mission in the South China Sea two years ago.
Philippine Vice Admiral Alexander Lopez, spokesman for the National Maritime Council, said the Chinese vessel had been “dangerously close” to its Philippine counterpart.
The ship crossing the bow of the BRP Emilio Jacinto had come within about 180m, leaving “no room for any maneuver, for any emergency cases,” he said.
The Chinese vessel following alongside had been less than 100m away, he said.
China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims in nearly its entirety despite an international ruling its assertion has no merit.
The joint US-Philippine exercises known as Balikatan, which this year were to simulate a “full-scale battle scenario,” are set to end today.
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