A Chinese warship crashed into its own coast guard vessel while pursuing a Philippine ship in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, according to Philippine authorities.
The incident occurred when Chinese coast guards were distributing aid to fishermen in the area. The Chinese warship suffered substantial damage and is now rendered ‘unseaworthy’.
China has confirmed the confrontation but did not acknowledge the collision, accusing the Philippines of forcibly entering Chinese waters instead.
The South China Sea is a contentious region between China, the Philippines, and other nations. Tensions have escalated in recent years, with both sides making accusations of provocations and altercations at sea.
The Scarborough Shoal has been a focal point of the dispute since China seized it in 2012. A video released by Manila shows a Chinese coast guard vessel firing water cannons before slamming into a much larger ship after making a sudden turn.
The Philippines Coast Guard has urged Chinese authorities to respect international conventions and handle territorial disputes with caution, emphasizing that reckless behaviour at sea can lead to accidents.
China’s coast guard maintains it was acting in accordance with the law and took necessary measures to drive away Philippine vessels. This incident is part of a series of high-stakes encounters between Beijing and Manila over disputed reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea.
Source: www.bbc.com
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