South China Sea: Chinese coastguard blames Philippine boats for ‘collision’ near disputed Second Thomas Shoal
- China Coast Guard takes ‘control measures’ after Philippine vessels ‘illegally’ enter Second Thomas Shoal, marking second straight day of face-offs
- Manila condemns ‘dangerous manoeuvres against legitimate and routine’ resupply mission
“The Philippines’ vessel Unaizah Mae 1 ignored multiple serious warnings and infringed the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea by taking a sudden turn in an unprofessional and dangerous way,” the statement said.
It also accused the vessel of “deliberately colliding” with a coastguard ship, causing a scratch on the hull. “The responsibility is all on the Philippines,” it said.
The Philippines rejected China’s account of events, raising “grave concern over the deliberate disinformation” and condemning its “latest unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous manoeuvres against a legitimate and routine Philippine rotation and resupply mission”.
The National Task Force of the West Philippine Sea said it was on a routine resupply and rotation mission to the disputed shoal when their civilian supply vessels were subjected to reckless and dangerous harassment at close range by Chinese vessels.