BEIJING: Tensions escalated in the South China Sea on Sunday as Chinese and Philippine vessels collided near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. The incident involved two collisions, one between a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and a Filipino resupply boat, and another between a Philippine Coast Guard vessel and a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel.
China claimed that the Filipino boat deliberately ignored warnings and passed through law enforcement in an unsafe manner, leading to the collision. Another collision involved a Philippine coastguard vessel, which was reportedly bumped by a Chinese Maritime Militia vessel. The Philippine side condemned China’s actions, stating that the Chinese vessels’ provocative behavior endangered the safety of the crew on the supply boat.
China Claims Entire South China Sea
China claims the entire South China Sea, a vital waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually. The recent clashes with the Philippines have raised concerns about the potential for further collisions and escalated tensions in the region. Analysts have noted that these incidents are indicative of China’s increasingly assertive stance in the area.
The United States condemned China’s actions, with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson expressing concern over the disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission. The US emphasized that such incidents put the lives of Filipino service members at risk.
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Second Thomas Shoal, where the collisions occurred, is more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan island, and approximately 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island of Palawan. The area has been a focal point of long-standing maritime disputes between China and the Philippines.
