Philippines Alleges Deliberate Collision by China's Coast Guard with Its Largest Vessel

Screengrab from a YouTube video by manila Standard

Tensions are flaring up again between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, a region that’s been a hotbed of disputes for years.

Recently, the Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese vessel, known as 5205, of deliberately colliding with their cutter, the Teresa Magbanua. Thankfully, no one was injured in this incident. The Philippines even shared footage during a press conference to back up their claims that this was an unprovoked attack.

On the flip side, China’s coast guard argued that it was actually the Philippine ship that acted recklessly by hitting them after allegedly being “illegally stranded” at a shoal. They demanded that the Philippine vessel leave instantly and warned they would take necessary actions against any provocations. A Chinese official emphasized their commitment to protecting national sovereignty and maritime rights.

This marks yet another confrontation—five in just one month! Just before this incident, there was another clash near Spratly Islands where Chinese forces reportedly used water cannons against two Philippine research vessels including one named Datu Sanday. The Bureau of Fisheries in the Philippines condemned these actions as aggressive interference—this marked an alarming first for them regarding water cannon attacks in those waters.

China responded by claiming that Filipino ships had entered restricted areas near Subi Reef without permission and accused them of trying to land on Sandy cay—a claim met with strong denial from Manila.

In response to these escalating tensions, U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson criticized China’s behavior as reckless and perilous for regional stability.

Sandy Cay is strategically located close to Thitu Island—the largest outpost occupied by the Philippines among several claimed territories also eyed by Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Taiwan—and China has made its own sovereignty claims here too.Last month saw reports from Beijing asserting they had landed on Sandy Cay; however, Manila firmly rejected such assertions.

Adding fuel to fire is a recent report from philippine maritime authorities about unsafe maneuvers conducted by Chinese aircraft around civilian planes patrolling Scarborough Shoal and Subi Reef.

Just last Sunday brought more accusations: Filipino fishermen were allegedly blocked during resupply missions when their vessel carrying essential supplies faced ramming attempts along with water cannon assaults from Chinese ships.

Earlier this year in April saw Manila dispatching vessels towards Sabina Shoal—about 140 kilometers off Palawan province but still far enough away (around 1,200 kilometers) from Hainan Island in china—to assert its presence amid fears of potential artificial island construction efforts reported due to findings like crushed coral on sandbars—a claim Beijing continues to deny vehemently.

Despite ongoing confrontations and what officials describe as harassment tactics employed by China’s forces within these contested waters—the Philippines remains steadfast about not withdrawing its ships from these regions they consider theirs based on international law principles established back in 2016 when The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against china’s expansive claims which have as been dismissed outright by Beijing itself.

The South China Sea isn’t just about territorial disputes; it plays an essential role globally since approximately $3 trillion worth of trade flows through it each year alongside notable reserves believed hidden beneath its seabed—including oil deposits and rich fishing grounds waiting for exploration!

Reference: abc.net; interaksyon.philstar