5-3-2024 (MANILA) In a recent development, the Philippine Coast Guard reported damage to one of its vessels on Tuesday following a collision with a China Coast Guard ship during a resupply mission in the contested South China Sea.
PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela revealed on the social media platform X that the collision resulted from “dangerous manoeuvres and blocking” by Chinese coast guard and other vessels. The incident caused “minor structural damage to the PCG vessel,” specifically the BRP Sindangan, which, along with a sister ship, had been deployed to support the Rotation and Reprovisioning Operation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
China asserts territorial claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, dismissing rival claims from various Southeast Asian nations and rejecting an international ruling that declared their assertions groundless.
The Chinese Global Times reported the incident, stating that the China Coast Guard “lawfully took control measures on Tuesday against a Philippine vessel illegally entering the waters adjacent to Ren’ai Jiao in the Nansha Islands.” Ren’ai Jiao is the Chinese name for the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly island group, known as Nansha by Beijing.
4 #Filipinos hurt after 2 #China Coast Guard ships use water cannons on PH Ayungin resupply vessel, shattering the wind shield of the ship on March 5.pic.twitter.com/S6aATJTJmU
— Indo-Pacific News – Geo-Politics & Defense News (@IndoPac_Info) March 5, 2024
