The Philippines said a Chinese ship deliberately rammed one of its government vessels in the disputed South China Sea yesterday, although Beijing blamed Manila for the incident.
The Philippines said a Chinese coast guard ship yesterday fired its water cannon at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
“Just three minutes later... the same [Chinese] vessel deliberately rammed the stern” of the Philippine boat, “causing minor structural damage, but no injuries to the crew,” the Philippine Coast Guard said.
Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP
The incident took place near Thitu Island (Jhongye Island, 中業島), part of the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands, 南沙群島), it said.
The Philippine National Maritime Council condemned the incident and vowed to pursue “appropriate diplomatic action to convey its strong objections to the aggressive and illegal actions of China.”
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Angelica Escalona said that a diplomatic protest would be filed over the incident.
China’s coast guard said the incident occurred after a Philippine vessel entered waters near Sandy Cay, “ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side and dangerously approached” the Chinese ship.
“Full responsibility lies with the Philippine side,” China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun (劉德軍) said.
Photos and videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard showed a China Coast Guard vessel which had its water cannon activated, shadowing a Philippine ship.
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