BEIJING: China and the Philippines on Saturday accused each other of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships near a flashpoint Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, marking the fifth maritime confrontation between the two nations this month.
China and the Philippines have each accused the other of deliberately ramming their ships near Sabina Shoal, a strategically important area that has become a focal point in the ongoing territorial dispute.
China’s coast guard spokesperson, Liu Dejun, said that a Philippine vessel “deliberately collided with” a Chinese ship near the shoal, which China refers to as Xianbin. Liu condemned the Philippine ship’s actions as “unprofessional and dangerous,” asserting that China exercises “indisputable sovereignty” over the area.
Beijing accused a Philippine ship of deliberately running into a Chinese coast guard vessel near the shoal. China claims almost all of the economically vital waterway.
Sabina Shoal is situated approximately 140 kilometers (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometers from Hainan Island, the closest major Chinese landmass. The area has seen a surge in maritime incidents recently.
Meanwhile, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said that it was the China Coast Guard vessel 5205 that “directly and intentionally rammed” the Philippine ship BRP Teresa Magbanua. The Philippine vessel has been stationed at Sabina Shoal since April as part of Manila’s efforts to assert its claim over the area. Tarriela reported that the ramming occurred three times, causing damage to the ship’s bridge wing and freeboard, and leaving a hole in the vessel.
The Philippine National Maritime Council has confirmed that a report on the incident will be submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs for further review and action.
National Maritime Council Spokesperson Alexander Lopez emphasized the seriousness of the situation, underscoring the Philippines’ legal right to operate within its own territory. “We are there on a legal basis because that is ours, we don’t need to ask for permission in our own territory,” Lopez stated.
Recent weeks have seen a rise in confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels around Sabina Shoal and other contested areas like the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
Analysts suggest China may be planning to establish a permanent base at Sabina Shoal—potentially its closest outpost to the Philippine archipelago.
Earlier this year, clashes also occurred around the Second Thomas Shoal, where a Filipino sailor lost a thumb in a violent altercation involving Chinese coast guard members. These confrontations have included physical altercations and the use of weapons such as knives, sticks, and axes.
Sabina Shoal serves as a critical point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison stationed at Second Thomas Shoal. The repeated incidents have led Manila to label Beijing as the “biggest disruptor” to peace in Southeast Asia.
