Manila says Chinese ship caused 'structural damage' to its vessel in South China Sea

China's maritime expansionist policies are again in spotlight after Beijing claimed that a Filipino vessel "deliberately collided" with a Chinese vessel in the West Philippine Sea, which China publicises as the South China Sea. China's Coast Guard said that Manila's vessel collided in an "unprofessional and dangerous" manner on Monday (Aug 19)..

A short video of the incident posted on China Coast Guard’s social media showed the collision happened around 3:24 am on Monday (1924 GMT on Sunday). It was not immediately clear if it was a Chinese coast guard vessel but Beijing labelled it a coast guard vessel.

In one of the statements, China’s maritime security said the same Filipino vessel then entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal after being prevented from entering Sabina Shoal waters.

"The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and caused trouble, violated the temporary arrangements between China and the Philippines,"China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said whilereferring to the Philippines’ supplies missions to a vessel grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal.

Manila has refuted Chinese claims.

The Philippines said that two of its coast guard vessels "encountered unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres" from Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal while on their way to supply Filipino personnel stationed in two occupied islands.

"These dangerous manoeuvres resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both PCG vessels," said Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the National Security Council and Manila's South China Sea task force.

Earlier, China and the Philippines reached a "provisional agreement" in July after repeated faceoffs near the Second Thomas Shoal.

China has come under sharp Western criticismfor aggression in blocking Philippine efforts to resupply troops aboard a navy ship it intentionally grounded 25 years ago.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including both shoals. But a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague had foundthat Beijing’s expansive claims have no basis under international law.

(With inputs from agencies)