MANILA, Philippines — The United States has slammed China’s “dangerous actions” against the two Philippine Coast Guard ships which led to a collision on Monday in Sabina Shoal saying China “employed reckless maneuvers” in the disputed waters.
In a statement Tuesday (Philippine time), the US State Department said Chinese ships “employed reckless maneuvers” deliberately colliding with two PCG ships which has led to “structural damage” and “jeopardizing the safety” of crew members onboard.
“These actions are the latest examples of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) using dangerous and escalatory measures to enforce its expansive and unlawful South China Sea maritime claims,” the state department said.
“The United States calls upon the PRC to abide by international law and desist from its dangerous and destabilizing conduct.”
The Philippine government earlier hit China for its “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” against Philippine-flagged vessels BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño which Beijing accused of “illegally” entering the disputed area without permission from Chinese authorities.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesman for the West Philippine Sea said prior to the collision that local authorities have the right to operate in the shoal “without asking for permission” from “any other country” because it’s a maritime territory of the Philippines.
In a separate statement on Monday, National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya said that about 3:24 AM, while navigating about 23.01 nautical miles southeast of Escoda Shoal, BRP Cape Engaño was subjected to aggressive maneuvers by CCGV-3104.
This caused a collision with the right side of the vessel, leaving a five-inch hole in the deck.
The official likewise said that less than 20 minutes after, at 3:40 AM, BRP Bagacay approximately 21.3 nautical miles southeast of Escoda Shoal—was “rammed twice” on both her port and starboard sides by CCGV 21551.
The ramming to BRP Bagacay led to minor structural damage, Malaya said.
This incident was one of the many “violent” encounters of Philippine authorities in the West Philippine Sea despite the 2016 Hague ruling dismissing China’s assertions in the disputed maritime area.
Beijing has dismissed the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling and continues to assert dominance in the West Philippine Sea by deploying several Chinese vessels and harassing Filipino fishermen trying to access the disputed region.
Although the Philippines and China had “reached” an agreement, the sting of skirmishes did not stop, prompting Manila to file another diplomatic protest against Beijing.
