The US has condemned the “dangerous and escalatory actions” of China following another confrontation at sea between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels.
Both countries on Saturday accused each other of intentionally ramming into the other’s vessel in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.
The incident took place near the Sabina Shoal, which is claimed by both countries and has emerged as a flashpoint in one of the world’s most critical waterways.
It is located about 90 miles off the Philippines, and more than 700 miles from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese landmass.
However, China claims almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, and Beijing has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claims.
The US took the side of the Philippines, which it is bound by treaty to defend in the case of attack.
‘Jeopardising the safety of the crew’
“A China (PRC) coast guard vessel deliberately collided three times with a Philippine coast guard vessel exercising its freedom of navigation in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), causing damage to the vessel and jeopardising the safety of the crew onboard,” Matthew Miller, a spokesman for US state department, said in a statement.
“The PRC’s unlawful claims of ‘territorial sovereignty’ over ocean areas where no land territory exists, and its increasingly aggressive actions to enforce them, threaten the freedoms of navigation and overflight of all nations,” he added.
To assert its claims over Sabina Shoal, the Philippine coast guard has anchored its largest ship, the 318ft BRP Teresa Magbanua, there since April.
Officials in Manila said the Chinese coast guard rammed the ship three times, damaging its bridge wing and freeboard and creating a hole.
‘Acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement’
But Liu Dejun, a spokesman for China’s coast guard claimed it was the Philippine ship that had “deliberately collided with” the Chinese vessel.
The Chinese coast guard called on the Philippines to “immediately” withdraw from the Sabina Shoal and pledged to “resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement”.
It marks the fifth confrontation at sea between China and the Philippines in a month.
On Tuesday, Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of US Indo-Pacific Command, said the US was open to consultations with Manila over escorting their ships in the area.
Such a move would risk putting US naval ships in direct collision with Chinese vessels.
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