courtesy: newsweek
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China and Philippines have accused one another of causing collisions in a disputed area of the South China Sea. The recent string of confrontation of maritime on Sunday between two countries have heightened regional tensions.
In a statement, Philippine authorities stated that a Chinese Coast Guard carried out a “dangerous blocking maneuvers” that caused it to collide with Philippine vessel carrying out supplies to troops stationed in Ayungin Shoal, also known as Second Thomas Shoal, in the Spratly Islands chain. The country’s National Task Force labelled China’s move as “provocative, irresponsible and illegal.”
In a second incident on Sunday, the task force revealed that a Chinese vessel collided with Philippine Coast Guar ship, which was on the same mission to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre.
On Monday, Manila summoned China’s ambassador to the Philippines and filed a diplomatic protest against Beijing.
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over almost all of the 1.3 million square miles of the South China Sea, as well as most of the islands, including many features that are hundreds of miles away from China’s mainland.