South China Sea: Philippines’ Marcos Jnr urges quick end to probe into ‘dangerous’ collision with Chinese vessel

Name: Beijing and Manila trade blame over ‘provocative’ moves with ship collisions near disputed shoal
Uploaded: 2023-10-24T09:00:17.000Z
Duration: 2 min 3 s
Description: Beijing and Manila trade blame over ‘provocative’ moves with ship collisions near disputed shoal

Probe of the collision between a Chinese Coast Guard ship and Philippines resupply boat is expected to be completed in five days

Marcos Jnr’s urging comes amid growing debate over whether Manila should invoke a US-backed defence pact to protect its territory in the disputed waterway

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (middle right), listens during an emergency meeting with the defence secretary and other top military and security officials to discuss the latest hostilities in the disputed South China Sea at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila. Photo: AP

SCMP’s Asia desk

Published: 5:00pm, 24 Oct 2023Updated: 5:03pm, 24 Oct 2023

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has ordered the coastguard to swiftly complete an investigation into a collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, as debate grows over whether Manila should invoke a US-backed defence pact to protect its territory in the disputed waterway.

Marcos told his security chiefs during a meeting to discuss last Sunday’s maritime incident that the issue was being given serious weight by the highest level of government.

“The incident, brought about by dangerous, illegal, and reckless manoeuvres by vessels of the China coastguard, caused damage to a Philippine vessel within our exclusive economic zone and is being taken seriously at the highest level of government,” the president’s office said in a Facebook post.

A Chinese Coast Guard ship (right) and Philippines’ resupply boat (left) collide during a resupply mission in Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Photo: AFP/Chinese Coast Guard

Newly appointed Philippine coastguard chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the probe is expected to be completed in five days.

“We’ll be submitting the report of our investigation through our department, the department of transportation, to the president for final disposition,” Gavan said after attending the meeting convened by Marcos.

The Southeast Asian nation accused Chinese coastguard vessels of “intentionally” colliding with its boats on a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal, where a handful of Philippine troops are stationed on a rusty warship.

Beijing rejected that assertion, saying the Philippine boats “bumped dangerously” with the coastguard vessels.

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Beijing and Manila trade blame over ‘provocative’ moves with ship collisions near disputed shoal