The Philippines has released dramatic footage of a Chinese warship colliding with a vessel from its own coastguard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea. The Guardian reports.
The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal on Monday as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) escorted vessels distributing aid to fishers in the area, Philippine authorities said. View the video here.
“Their [the Chinese vessels’] actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels,” the Philippine foreign ministry said on Tuesday, accusing the Chinese crew of “dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference” in the resupply mission.
Video released by Manila showed a Chinese coastguard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash in the wake of the Philippine vessel.
Additional footage and photos released later by the PCG showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward.
The full Guardian report is here.
The footage of the harassment of the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessel BRP Suluan by the Peoples Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) destroyer CNS Guilin and the Chinese coast guard vessel Nanyu, and then the dramatic collision between the two Chinese ships has garnered international reaction.
The official Philippines News Agency stated that the Australian Embassy in Manila on 13 August expressed “serious concern” over the collision of two Chinese vessels near Bajo de Masinloc, saying the incident underscores the urgent need for “restraint” in the area.
“Australia is seriously concerned by the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG),” the embassy said in a statement posted on X.
“This incident highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint, and respect for international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it added.
Australia joined several foreign missions in raising alarm over the incident. The Canadian Embassy in Manila said it was gravely concerned over the incident and called for peaceful resolution of disputes. Meanwhile, it commended the crew of the PCG for offering assistance to the wrecked CCG cutter.
“We commend the PCG for offering to help a Chinese vessel and continue to call for the peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award,” it said.
Also, the New Zealand Embassy in Manila called for a peaceful resolution of maritime disputes. “New Zealand is concerned by the collision between vessels near Scarborough Shoal, and the pattern of dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea. We do not want to see ship and crew safety undermined. We call for peaceful resolution of maritime disputes in accordance with UNCLOS,” it said.
The Embassies of the United States, Japan, and United Kingdom earlier echoed the same concerns over X. The US Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson condemned the Chinese actions, describing them as “reckless” and directed against the PCG vessel.
A Chinese response to the incident was given on 15 August by Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defence. He asked the Philippines “to immediately stop its acts of infringement and provocation after several Philippine vessels illegally intruded into China’s territorial waters off Huangyan Dao and created a complex and tense situation at sea.”
Senior Colonel Jiang went on to say that, “on August 11, several Philippine Coast Guard and other official vessels illegally intruded into Chinese territorial waters off China’s Huangyan Dao. Chinese Coast Guard ships responded in accordance with the law by tracking, monitoring, intercepting and taking control measures to drive the vessels away. During the process, the Philippine side repeatedly engaged in hazardous manoeuvres, including high-speed charges and sharp turns toward the bows of Chinese ships, leading to a complex and tense situation.” No mention was made of any casualties.
The Philippine Navy spokesperson for the Western Philippines Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad warned that such incidents will persist as long as China carries out “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive” actions in the area.
Sources: PNA
