MANILA: Beijing and Manila traded blame on Sunday for two collisions between Chinese vessels and the Philippine boats on a resupply mission to Filipino troops on a remote outpost in the disputed South China Sea.

The incidents happened near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

A Philippine government task force said the “dangerous blocking man­o­euvers of China Coast Guard vessel-5203 caused it to collide with the Armed Forces of the Philippines-contracted indigenous resupply boat” about 25km from Second Thomas Shoal.

China said the “slight collision” happened after the resupply boat ignored “multiple warnings and deliberately passed through law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner”, CCTV reported, citing the foreign ministry.

Also, a Philippine coastguard vessel escorting the routine resupply mission was “bumped” by what the Philippine task force described as a “Chinese Maritime Militia vessel”.

US slams ‘latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission’ near Second Thomas Shoal

China, however, accused the Philippine boat of “deliberately” stirring up trouble by reversing in a “premeditated manner” into a Chinese fishing vessel.

Video released by the Philippine military sho­wed the bow of the Chinese coastguard ship and the stern of the smaller resupply vessel briefly touching.

The Philippine vessel continues on its course.

No one on either Philippine vessel was injured, but the supply boat involved in the collision was damaged, the National Security Council claimed, citing coastguard.

A second resupply boat was able to reach the grounded BRP Sierra Madre and “successfully resupply our troops and personnel stationed there”, the statement said.

“The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea condemns in the strongest degree the latest dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal actions of the CCG and the Chinese Maritime Militia done this morning,” the task force stated. It added the “provocative, irresponsible, and illegal action” of the Chinese coastguard boat had endangered the safety of the crew on the boat.

The Philippine coastguard was escorting the two resupply vessels back to port, the National Security Council said.

China said “responsibility lies entirely with the Philippines” for Sunday’s incidents.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said in a post on X that the United States condemned China’s “latest disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission” that put “the lives of Filipino service members at risk”.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2023