The Philippines has released images of the damage its ships sustained in collisions with Chinese coast guard vessels in disputed parts of the South China Sea on Monday.
Each side blames the other for the confrontation, which took place early Monday morning near the Sabina Reef of the Spratly Islands and within the US ally’s exclusive economic zone. China and the Philippines have had a coast guard stationed in the area, known in Manila as Escoda Reef and in China as Xianbin Reef, for weeks.
Philippine Coast Guard cutter, the BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engano were on their way to two of the Spratly Islands when they were intercepted by Chinese coast guard vessels conducting “dangerous” blockade maneuvers, according to a statement from the task force responsible for the West Philippine Sea, which is how Manila refers to the parts of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.
“Aggressive maneuvers” by the Chinese coast guard ship CCGV 3104 about 20 miles southeast of Sabina Shoal resulted in a collision with the Cape Engano, it said, adding: “This resulted in a collision with the starboard side of the vessel, creating a hole in the deck approximately 5 inches in diameter.”
Only 16 minutes later, another Chinese ship, CCGV 21551, rammed the Bagacay There was “minor structural damage” on both the starboard and port sides, the statement said.
The Cape Engano A 3-foot-long crack was left on the starboard side, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said in an X-post alongside photos showing the damage measurement. An exhaust pipe also appears to have been damaged.
Philippine Coast Guard
What the Bagacay, A 2.5-foot-long, 3-foot-wide hole was torn in the ship near the port auxiliary engine. The starboard collision damaged 13 support posts and left a 1-foot-long dent, Tarriela wrote.
The Chinese coast guard released two short videos of the moments before the collisions. The agency claimed that the Philippine vessels illegally entered the waters off Sabina Shoal and ignored China’s repeated stern warnings, after which the Bagacay “intentionally” rammed into CCGV 4410.
The Chinese statement reaffirmed Beijing’s claim to sovereignty over the entire Spratly Islands and called on Manila to end its provocations or “face all consequences.”
Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, although an international tribunal largely rejected its claims in 2016. In addition to the Philippines, these claims are in conflict with Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
Monday’s incident is the latest in a series of clashes over the past year as the Philippines continues to challenge China’s increasingly assertive expansion into the Southeast Asian country’s exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine Coast Guard did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
