While Beijing claims a large part of the islands and reefs present in this zone, Manila has denounced the “illegal and aggressive maneuvers” of Chinese ships.
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Although no one was injured in the collision, the accident in the China Sea has given rise to multiple statements. Near a reef disputed by several powers, ships flying the Chinese and Philippine flags collided early Monday morning, August 19. Since then, both China and the Philippines have accused each other of having started the accident.
After having “entered illegally” in the area and “without the permission of the Chinese government”according to state television CCTV, citing a spokesman for one of its coast guards, a Philippine ship is “deliberately collided”“with a Chinese maritime vessel, according to the same source. The Philippine authorities have for their part denounced “illegal maneuvers” conducted by China, before two of its ships were rammed. One of its boats was “spurred twice” by a Chinese coast guard vessel and suffered “minor structural damage”, said the director general of the Philippine National Security Council.
This is not the first clash between the two powers. In recent months, theTensions between Beijing and Manila have escalated after a series of clashes in the South China Sea. Beijing claims a large portion of islands and reefs, including those near the coasts of neighboring countries, overriding an international court ruling that runs counter to Chinese objectives.
