MANILA – Ships of the Philippines and China have reportedly collided in the waters near Ayungin Shoal on early Monday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) said.
According to the CCG, the Philippine supply ship dangerously approached the Chinese ship, but there was no mention of injuries or damage to either vessel due to the slight collision.
The CCG said the Philippine ship illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal and ignored China’s repeated warnings.
“A Philippine replenishment ship ignored many solemn warnings from the Chinese side. They approached the… Chinese vessel in an unprofessional way, resulting in a collision,” the CCG said.
China also accused the Philippine ship of having “illegally broken into the sea near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands (locally known as Spratlys Island).”
“The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with the law,” it added.
Responding to China’s claims, the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said they would not dignify the misleading claims of China.
“The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). We will not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard,” Trinidad said.
He added: “’The main issue remains to be the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, which infringes on our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
The Philippine Coast Guard and the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), however, has yet to issue a comment regarding the collision as of press time.
For months, China and the Philippines have traded accusations over dangerous maneuvers and collisions at Ayungin Shoal, an atoll in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Several incidents have happened when the Philippines deploys resupply missions for Filipino soldiers living aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, an aging warship there deliberately run aground to protect Manila’s maritime claims.
The Ayungin Shoal, which China calls Ren’ai Reef, is located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan and is within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone and is part of its continental shelf./PN
