Beijing claims that a Philippine ship collided with a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands, an area where both countries have overlapping territorial claims. The Chinese Coast Guard alleges that the Philippine replenishment ship ignored multiple warnings and approached the Chinese vessel in an unprofessional manner, leading to the collision.
#UPDATE A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, Beijing’s Coast Guard says.
Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations… pic.twitter.com/TpN6Ibeskz
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) June 17, 2024
The Chinese Coast Guard further stated that a Philippine Coast Guard vessel “deliberately stirred up trouble” by colliding with a Chinese fishing boat two hours after the initial incident. The Philippines, however, has denied these allegations and accused the Chinese side of causing the collision.
