China and the Philippines have accused each other of ramming their ships in a disputed area of the South China Sea as their clashes over the vital waterway escalate.
China’s coastguard on Saturday said a Philippine ship, “illegally stranded” at the Sabina Shoal, “deliberately rammed” a Chinese vessel. The Philippine coastguard said a Chinese vessel had “intentionally rammed” one of Manila’s ships.
No injuries were reported as a result of the collisions.
The disputed Sabina Shoal is located 140km (87 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200km (746 miles) from Hainan Island, the closest Chinese landmass.
Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China’s coastguard, said it will take steps “to resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.
“China exercises indisputable sovereignty” in this zone, Liu said.
China’s coastguard took dangerous actions by ignoring collision regulations, said the spokesman for the Philippines coastguard, Jay Tarriela.
He told a news conference that China has carried out dangerous manoeuvres, resulting in damage, without providing more information.
The shoal lies within the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile (370km) exclusive economic zone. It is also the rendezvous point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison on the Second Thomas Shoal.
The collisions took place after a similar incident this week when China’s coastguard said it rescued Filipino “personnel” who fell overboard after the two countries traded fire over collided ships.
In June, a Filipino sailor lost a thumb in a clash when Chinese coastguard members wielding knives, sticks and an axe foiled a Philippine Navy attempt to resupply a small garrison.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The sea is believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks, and is where $3 trillion worth of trade passes annually.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration found China’s claims to the area had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejected.
China has deployed a number of vessels to protect its claims.
