Earlier on October 4, 2023, a Chinese language coast guard ship (left) with a Chinese language militia vessel (proper) blocks Philippine coast guard ship, BRP Sindangan, because it tried to move in direction of Second Thomas Shoal on the disputed South China Sea throughout rotation and resupply mission. File
| Photograph Credit score: AP
A Chinese language coast guard ship and one in all its militia vessels individually bumped a Philippine coast guard ship and a military-run provide boat Sunday off a disputed shoal, Philippine officers stated.
They didn’t say if there have been accidents or harm.
The Philippine authorities condemned the incident in “the strongest diploma” and known as it a violation of Manila’s sovereignty, the officers stated.
The Philippine process power on South China Sea stated in an announcement the “harmful, irresponsible and unlawful actions of the Chinese language Coast Guard, which passed off on Sunday morning, have been “in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction”.
The duty power stated the collisions occurred off Second Thomas Shoal as two Philippine provide boats escorted by two Philippine coast guard ships have been heading to ship meals and different provides to the atoll within the face of a years-long Chinese language blockade.
Close to-collisions have occurred continuously as Philippine vessels commonly ship provides to Filipino marines and sailors stationed on the disputed shoal. However this was the primary time Philippine officers have reported their nation’s vessels being hit by China’s ships.
The shoal is without doubt one of the most fiercely contested areas within the busy South China Sea, the place China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have had overlapping territorial claims for many years.
(With inputs from Reuters)
