A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Monday, according to China's coast guard. The incident occurred as the Philippine supply ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that is claimed by multiple nations.
The Chinese coast guard stated on the social media platform WeChat that the Philippine supply ship disregarded repeated warnings and approached a Chinese vessel in an unprofessional manner, leading to the collision. The coast guard placed the blame entirely on the Philippines for the incident.
The Philippines, on the other hand, asserts that the shoal falls within its internationally recognized exclusive economic zone, citing a 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected China's expansive claims in the South China Sea based on historical grounds.
Recent months have seen several incidents near the shoal, where the Philippines maintains a post aboard the BRP Sierra Madre ship. These territorial disputes have strained relations among the countries involved and raised concerns about a potential military confrontation between China and the United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines.
While the United States does not claim territory in the South China Sea, it has pledged to defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack in the region. Apart from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan are also embroiled in the longstanding territorial disputes, which are considered a significant flashpoint in Asia and a sensitive issue in the broader U.S.-China rivalry in the region.
