23-10-2023 (MANILA) The Philippine government summoned Beijing’s ambassador on Monday (Oct 23) to address two collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea. The incidents occurred near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides presenting videos to support their respective claims.
The collisions took place during a routine Philippine resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on a navy vessel grounded on the shoal to assert Manila’s territorial claims.
“We’re utilizing all available diplomatic processes, including summoning the Chinese ambassador (Huang Xilian), which we did this morning,” stated Teresita Daza, spokesperson for the foreign ministry.
Daza informed reporters that the Chinese ambassador was unavailable and was represented by his deputy chief of mission during the meeting at the foreign ministry.
This is not the first time Ambassador Xilian has been summoned. He was previously called to the foreign ministry in August when the China Coast Guard used water cannons on Philippine vessels near Second Thomas Shoal.
Daza reaffirmed that Ayungin Shoal is part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, asserting their sovereign rights and jurisdiction over it.
“As a major power, China bears a greater responsibility to contribute to peace and stability in the region,” she added.
Earlier on Monday, the Philippines reiterated its call for China to cease its “provocative actions,” warning that continued attempts to block Manila’s resupply missions to the disputed atoll in the South China Sea could lead to “disastrous results.”
Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson for the National Security Council, stated in a press conference that China’s interference with Sunday’s resupply mission resulted in damage to one of Manila’s boats, but no one was injured. The Philippines has accused a China Coast Guard vessel of engaging in “reckless maneuvers” that led to a collision with a wooden boat contracted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines to deliver provisions to troops on the BRP Sierra Madre.
China, on the other hand, claimed that the “slight collision” occurred after the resupply boat ignored “multiple warnings and deliberately passed through law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner,” as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
China’s embassy in Manila responded on Monday, stating that it had lodged strong representations to the Philippines regarding the “trespassing” of its vessels at the shoal. The embassy also repeated China’s demand for the Philippines to halt “causing trouble and provocation” at sea and to cease “groundless attacks and smearing” against China.
In another incident, a Philippine coastguard vessel escorting the resupply mission was “bumped” by what the Philippine task force described as a “Chinese Maritime Militia vessel.” China, however, accused the Philippine boat of deliberately provoking the collision by reversing into a Chinese fishing vessel in a “premeditated manner.”
The Philippine Coast Guard is yet to assess the extent of damage to the supply boat’s hull. Jay Tarriela, the spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, stated in the same news conference that the damage was significant and more than just a scratch.
Malaya accused China of escalating tensions in the South China Sea and maintained that China’s actions were responsible for the collision on Sunday.
“We are relieved and thankful that no Filipino personnel were harmed. But we are concerned by the escalation and provocations by Chinese vessels who have no business being in the West Philippine Sea,” said Malaya.
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial waterway for trillions of dollars in global trade, and has disregarded an international ruling that declared its assertion as having no legal basis.
Second Thomas Shoal is approximately 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island of Palawan and over 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.
As China continues to assert its claims of sovereignty over the waters with increasing confidence, officials and experts have warned about the potential for collisions.
The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded the World War II-era BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to impede China’s advancement in the region. The troops stationed on the deteriorating ship rely on regular supply deliveries for their survival.
The Philippines maintains outposts on nine reefs and islands in the Spratlys, including Second Thomas Shoal.
