China used 'dangerous maneuvers' to harass Philippine supply ship in South China Sea

The Philippines’ National Security Council (NSC) said Monday evening (June 17) that China used “dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing,” to interfere with a routine resupply mission to Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea.

This comes 12 hours after China claimed a Philippine supply ship dangerously approached a Chinese vessel and slightly collided with Beijing’s ship after it illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Responding to these allegations, Manila had earlier said it would not "dignify" the "misleading" claims made by Beijing.

The Chinese coast guard reported a collision between a Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel, on Monday, near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. 

The reported incident comes days after Beijing introduced new rules which would allow the Chinese coast guard to detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea without trial for 60 days.  

According to the statement by the Chinese coast guard, the Philippine vessel deliberately and dangerously approached the Chinese ship in an “unprofessional way,” resulting in a collision. 

However, it made no mention of any injuries or damage to either of the vessels. 

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The Philippine ship “illegally broke into the sea near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands,” said the Chinese coast guard, using Beijing’s official term for the Spratly Islands.

It added, “The Philippine replenishment ship ignored many solemn warnings from the Chinese side.” 

“The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with the law,” said the statement by Beijing’s coast guard without elaborating. 

Manila responds

The Philippines later responded to the claims made by the Chinese coast guard in a sharply worded statement and said it would "not dignify the deceptive and misleading claims of the China Coast Guard".

"The main issue remains...the illegal presence and actions of Chinese vessels within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, which infringes on our sovereignty and sovereign rights," the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement.

It added, "The continued aggressive actions of the CCG are escalating tensions in the region." 

China’s new rules for South China Sea

In recent months, China and the Philippines have traded accusations over dangerous manoeuvres and collisions at the Second Thomas Shoal, which hosts a garrison of Philippine troops on a grounded navy vessel to assert Manila’s claims to the waters. 

Beijing has claimed almost the entirety of the South China Sea as a part of its territory despite an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis. 

Manila repeatedly accused the Chinese coast guard of “barbaric and inhumane behaviour” against Philippine vessels. 

Last week, Beijing announced new rules, which went into effect on Friday (Jun 15), in line with which the Chinese coast guard can detain foreigners for trespassing in the disputed South China Sea. 

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Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos has called the new rules a “very worrisome” escalation. 

Meanwhile, the Philippine military chief, on Friday (Jun 14) urged Filipino fishermen to keep fishing in the country’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea and told them “not to be afraid”. 

He added, “We have the right to exploit the resources in the area so our fishermen have no reason to be afraid.”

(With inputs from agencies)