4-10-2023 (MANILA) A tragic incident unfolded in the South China Sea as a still unidentified foreign commercial vessel collided with a Filipino fishing boat, resulting in the loss of three Filipino fishermen, the Philippine coastguard reported on Wednesday.
The incident took place on Monday while the fishing boat was crossing waters located 85 nautical miles (157 km) northwest of the disputed Scarborough Shoal. According to an official statement from the coastguard, eleven crew members managed to survive the ordeal after the boat sank.
Tensions have escalated in these waters following the Philippines’ announcement that it had removed a 300-metre-long ball-buoy barrier installed by China’s coastguard near the Scarborough Shoal. This shoal is a prized fishing location and one of the most fiercely contested maritime features in Asia.
The strategic shoal, named after a British cargo vessel that ran aground on the atoll in the 18th century, was seized by China in 2012. Since then, China has maintained a continuous presence of coastguard vessels and fishing trawlers in the area.
China has disputed the Philippine account of the barrier’s removal, while the United States has expressed support for Manila and reaffirmed its commitment to defending its treaty ally in the event of an attack.
The Philippine coastguard did not provide additional information about the collision or details regarding the foreign vessel involved in the incident.
