In the early hours of Monday, coast guard vessels from China and the Philippines collided multiple times near the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea. Both nations have blamed each other for the incident, which caused significant damage to at least two ships but resulted in no reported injuries.
The collisions occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. local time, involving the Philippine coast guard ships BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño, and several Chinese coast guard vessels. The Philippine National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea reported that its ships encountered “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” by the Chinese vessels while en route to “Philippine-occupied” islands in the Spratly archipelago. As a result, both Philippine ships sustained structural damage. The BRP Cape Engaño suffered a 3.6-foot hole on its starboard side, while the BRP Bagacay was rammed twice, causing a 3-foot-wide hole and a deep dent.
China, in turn, accused the Philippines of deliberately instigating the collisions. According to a statement from the Chinese coast guard, two Philippine ships entered the waters near Sabina Shoal, ignored warnings, and intentionally collided with a Chinese vessel. Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu placed full responsibility for the incident on the Philippines, warning that further provocations would have consequences.
The Sabina Shoal, located in the Spratly Islands—a group of islands claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan—has become a recent flashpoint in the broader struggle for control in the South China Sea. China asserts “indisputable sovereignty” over the entire region, including Sabina Shoal, which it calls Xianbin Reef. The Philippines, however, rejects these claims and continues to assert its rights over the area, supported by the presence of its coast guard and military forces.
Jonathan Malaya, assistant director-general of the Philippine National Security Council, accused the Chinese coast guard of falsely claiming that Philippine ships had rammed their vessels. He presented video evidence, taken by journalists aboard one of the Philippine ships, showing the Chinese vessels initiating the collisions.
This incident adds to the growing list of confrontations in the South China Sea, where Chinese activities, including the building of artificial islands and militarization of the region, have drawn sharp criticism from neighboring countries and the broader international community. A
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