Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships collided near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, damaging at least two boats. Both sides blame each other for the incident, with China accusing the Philippines of deliberately crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel. The Philippines, on the other hand, stated that their coast guard ships encountered aggressive maneuvers from Chinese vessels, resulting in collisions.
The Philippine National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea reported structural damage to two coast guard vessels, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño. The collision between BRP Cape Engaño and a Chinese ship created a hole on the deck of the Philippine ship, while BRP Bagacay was rammed twice on its sides by another Chinese vessel, causing minor damage.
The dispute is centered around Sabina Shoal, a new flashpoint in the territorial tensions between China and the Philippines. The area has seen increased confrontations between the two countries’ coast guard ships, with the Philippines deploying additional patrol ships to deter potential Chinese construction activities.
Despite reaching an agreement to prevent further confrontations in the Second Thomas Shoal, tensions remain high in the region. China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have led to disputes with many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges in the contested waters and the need for diplomatic efforts to ease tensions and prevent further clashes.
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