US condemns 'dangerous actions' by China against PH vessels

WASHINGTON — The US State Department condemned "dangerous actions" by China on Monday against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.

Chinese ships "employed reckless maneuvers, deliberately colliding with two Philippine Coast Guard ships, causing structural damage and jeopardizing the safety of the crew onboard," the department said in a statement.

The Philippines on Monday accused the Chinese Coast Guard of performing "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), resulting in collisions that damaged two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels.

"These dangerous maneuvers resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both PCG vessels," the National Task Force for West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said in a statement.

Both countries said that their coast guard ships had collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometers (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometers from Hainan island, the closest Chinese landmass.

Manila said it was the first hostile action by Beijing against it near Sabina, where both sides have stationed coast guard vessels in recent months and where the Philippines fears China is about to build an artificial island.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the Chinese vessel had smashed a hole into the hull of the Philippine ship BRP Bagacay during their first collision.

A second collision then dented the ship and damaged its railings, he added.

In a separate collision, a second Filipino vessel, the BRP Engano, suffered a 1.1-metre (3.6-foot) hole in its right side as well as damage to its engine exhaust, Tarriela said.

Manila also released images showing what Tarriela said was the heavy damage sustained by the ships.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu, meanwhile, accused the Philippine vessels of acting "in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a glancing collision".

"The China Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law," he insisted.

Despite talks for de-escalation between Philippine and Chinese officials, tensions in WPS continue amid China’s massive claim in the South China Sea (SCS).

The SCS is a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Aside from the Philippines, China has overlapping claims in the area with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's massive claims in the SCS, saying it has "no legal basis."

China, however, does not recognize the decision. 

China on Monday vowed to maintain "forceful measures" in the South China Sea following the collisions near a disputed reef.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said the Philippine vessels' actions had "seriously violated China's sovereignty," adding Beijing "will continue to take resolute and forceful measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."

The NTF-WPS urged “restraint and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international laws to prevent further escalations and ensure the safety of all vessels operating in the region.” —with Agence France-Presse and GMA Integrated News