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Manila and Beijing have a long heritage of maritime incidents in the contested South China Sea.
The Philippines and China have traded accusations over a collision of their vessels around a disputed shoal in the South China Sea as tensions around claims in the crucial waterway escalate.
The shoal is aspect of what are internationally regarded as the Spratly Islands.
China’s coastguard reported in a assertion on Sunday that two Philippine vessels, disregarding recurring warnings, had “illegally entered the waters adjacent to Ren’ai Reef in the Nansha Islands devoid of the acceptance of the Chinese government”.
It mentioned the Unaizah Mae 1 “made an unprofessional and perilous unexpected convert, intentionally ramming into China Coast Guard vessel 21556”. It reported the Philippine side bore whole duty.
Spokesperson Gan Yu also identified as on the Philippines to end its “provocative acts”, indicating Beijing would continue to carry out “law-enforcement activities” in its waters.
Meanwhile, the Philippine coastguard accused China of firing water cannons and ramming resupply vessels and a coast guard ship, leading to “serious motor damage” to a single.
Spokesperson Jay Tarriela stated in a statement on the social media platform X that the “M/L Kalayaan experienced really serious engine problems. Contrary to China Coastline Guard disinformation, UM1 rammed by CCG vessel”.
Assertion of the National Undertaking Drive-West Philippine Sea
December 10, 2023, Manila, PhilippinesToday, 10 December 2023, China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers on Philippine civilian provide vessels,… pic.twitter.com/NF66BqVPUM
— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) December 10, 2023
Hours prior to Sunday’s incident, close to 200 Philippine fishermen, youth leaders and civil culture groups experienced joined a Xmas convoy to the space to supply donations.
But the convoy’s organiser mentioned the fishing boats decided to pull out as they “erred on the facet of caution” because of to the existence of Chinese boats.
The Philippines and China have a prolonged record of maritime incidents in the contested South China Sea, via which far more than $3 trillion of yearly ship-borne trade passes yearly.
Sunday’s incident arrives a working day immediately after Manila accused Beijing of firing drinking water cannon at a civilian-operated governing administration fishing vessel, a shift Beijing named authentic “control measures”.
According to Chinese point out media, Beijing also stated that it took “control measures” from the 3 Philippine vessels in the South China Sea that it claimed had intruded into waters around Scarborough Shoal on Saturday.
China claims pretty much the entire South China Sea, which include areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. But the Long term Court docket of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016 said China’s claims had no lawful foundation.
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