Philippines, China trade accusations over South China Sea vessel clash

The Philippines and China traded accusations on Sunday over a maritime confrontation near disputed islands in the South China Sea, further intensifying tensions in the resource-rich waterway.

The Philippine Maritime Council, an inter-agency government body, held Chinese maritime forces responsible for deploying water cannons and ramming a Filipino vessel near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa. It “strongly condemned” the incident and vowed to pursue “appropriate diplomatic action.”

According to Manila’s coast guard, three Philippine vessels were anchored near the island early Sunday as part of a government initiative to safeguard local fishermen when Chinese ships reportedly approached and used water cannons to intimidate them.
An hour later, a Chinese coast guard vessel allegedly fired its water cannon directly at a Philippine ship before striking its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries, the coast guard said.

China’s coast guard countered that two Philippine government vessels “illegally entered” waters near Sandy Cay, a coral reef within the northern Thitu Reefs of the Spratly Islands, resulting in a collision.