The Philippines reported that a ship belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard and a “militia ship” crashed into a Philippine Coast Guard ship and an army supply ship in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
In the statement made by the West Philippine Sea National Task Force (NTF-WPS), it was stated that the collisions took place in the Second Thomas Shoal near the Spratly Islands.
In the statement, it was stated that the ship belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard and the “militia ship” collided with the Philippine Coast Guard ship and the supply ship, and that the collisions were “a violation of Manila’s sovereignty”.
In the statement, which “strongly” condemned the collisions, it was stated that the “dangerous, irresponsible and illegal” action of the Chinese Coast Guard ship “endangered the safety of the crew”.
US Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson also stated in her statement on the X social media platform that the US “condemns” China’s actions in question.
The Chinese Coast Guard’s use of pressurized water on a Philippine supply ship approaching the region on August 6 brought the countries into conflict.
The Philippines announced on October 4 that it managed to deliver supplies to the Philippine forces in the region, despite the obstacles of the Chinese coast guard ships and by overcoming the blockade created by these ships.
South China Sea dispute
The South China Sea has been the subject of sovereignty disputes since the littoral countries gained their independence after World War II.
China claims sovereignty over 80 percent of the South China Sea with the map it first published in 1947. Coastal neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia also claim rights in the region.
Sovereignty disputes over the islets, reefs, rocks and sea dams in the region, especially the Paracel and Spratly Islands, occasionally lead to tensions between countries.
The United States, as well as regional countries, oppose China’s construction of military bases on the disputed islands and its long-term maintenance of civilian ship fleets.
In its decision on the application of the Philippines in 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague ruled that China’s unilateral sovereignty claims in the South China Sea were not legal.
The opinions expressed herein are the author’s and not necessarily those of News2Sea.
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