Beijing and Manila trade barbs over close call at sea

A photo taken on April 23 shows the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Malapascua manoeuvring as a Chinese coast guard ship cuts its path at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. (Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP)

BEIJING: China said on Friday that a near-collision in the South China Sea between a Chinese coast guard ship and a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists was caused by the latter’s “premeditated and provocative action”.

The near-miss off the Spratly Islands on Sunday was the latest in a long string of incidents between China and the Philippines in the contested waterway.