Philippine and Chinese vessels experience a collision.
The South China Sea becomes a battleground once again as China and the Philippines clash over territorial disputes. Lately, there was a peace agreement to put an end to these conflicts, but another sea incident has happened. Beijing and Manila are pointing fingers at each other.
A recent incident in the ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines has caused quite a stir. Both sides have accused each other with ships colliding in the sea. A statement by the Manila government's task force overseeing West Philippine Sea issues accused China of performing "illegal and aggressive actions."
According to the declaration, two Philippine Coast Guard supply ships had brushed against two Chinese ships in quick succession during the early morning hours. The first incident led to a five-inch (around 13 cm) hole being torn into one of the Philippine ships. Soon after, a Chinese Coast Guard ship rammed into a second Philippine ship, leading to minimal damage. Both incidents happened south of the Sabina Shoal, a small area owned by the Spratly Islands. Both China and the Philippines claim this area as their own.
As per the Chinese Coast Guard's account, it was a Philippine Coast Guard ship that caused the first collision with the Chinese ship. Despite warnings, the Philippine ship allegedly approached the Chinese ship in a hazardous manner. No mention of a second collision was made. Only a few weeks ago, a peace agreement was reached between the Philippines and China, aiming to avoid further confrontations in the disputed region.
This incident took place near the Second Thomas Shoal, where Filipino troops have been stationed on board the "BRP Sierra Madre," a grounded ship since 1999. Confrontations during recent supply missions for the ship have been frequent. Besides China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Brunei also claim territories in the area. Rich in resources, the region is a vital global trade route. The US and China's neighbors accuse Beijing of escalating the region's militarization.
The ongoing Wars and Conflicts over territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and the Philippines have led to several unsettling incidents, such as the recent ships colliding. Regrettably, this latest incident has further strained the recently established peace agreement between the two nations.
