Philippines protests 'dangerous' China manoeuvres after Scarborough Shoal collision
Manila's Coast Guard deployed three vessels on Monday to deliver supplies, such as fuel and ice, to dozens of fishermen operating around the disputed atoll when they encountered "hazardous" and "blocking actions" from Chinese vessels in the area.
"Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels," the Philippine foreign ministry said in a statement.
Philippine Coast Guard footage showed a Chinese Coast Guard ship trailing the PCG vessel before a Chinese navy ship suddenly cut across its path, colliding with it and damaging the Coast Guard's forecastle. It was the first known collision between Chinese vessels in the area.
"Our assessment is that the real objective of the PLA Navy ship is to ram our Philippine Coast Guard (vessel). That is also (the) assessment of our Philippine Coast Guard," Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner told reporters on Tuesday.
China's actions also drew condemnation from the United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines. "We condemn this latest reckless action by China directed against a Philippine vessel... and commend the Philippine Coast Guard for their professionalism and their offer to render assistance," US Ambassador to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said on X.
China's defence ministry and its embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
On Monday, China's coast guard said it took necessary measures to expel Philippine vessels from waters around the Scarborough Shoal.
The confrontation marks the latest in a series of incidents amid a period of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal voided Beijing's sweeping claims in the region, saying they had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela said the PCG offered medical and search-and-rescue assistance via radio, but received no response from the Chinese side. He added there was no confirmation on whether any Chinese crew members were injured during the clash.
"Yesterday's incident demonstrates the importance of adhering to international maritime rules," the Philippine foreign ministry said. It reaffirmed its commitment to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving differences.
Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad, Philippine navy spokesperson for the South China Sea, warned at a press briefing on Tuesday that similar incidents could happen again as long as China continued to conduct what he called "illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive" activities in the strategic waterway. -REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
China, Lao FMs meet in Beijing, pledge stronger ties
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) greeting Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Anning on Aug 14. - Chinese Foreign Ministry KUNMING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday (Aug 14) met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Anning, Yunnan Province. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said China is willing to work with Laos to implement the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and two countries, strengthen strategic communication, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to continuously inject new vitality into their traditional friendship. Wang said China is ready to share the benefits of its super-sized market with Laos, encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Laos, safeguard the security and stability of industrial and supply chains, and work with Laos to resist economic coercion and bullying. China welcomes Laos' joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) family and looks forward to Laos contributing to the development of the SCO, Wang added. Thongsavanh, who is in China for the tenth Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, said the Lao Party and government attach great importance to developing relations with China and hope to promote the construction of a Laos-China community with a shared future to go deeper and achieve more solid progress. Thongsavanh thanked China for supporting Laos in becoming a dialogue partner of the SCO. Laos is willing to maintain close communication and coordination with China to jointly safeguard international fairness and justice, he added. - Xinhua
Malaysian Reserve
2 hours ago
- Malaysian Reserve
HK court hears final arguments in landmark trial of Jimmy Lai
FORMER media mogul Jimmy Lai's national security trial in Hong Kong entered its final phase on Friday, as prosecutors began their closing arguments in a case that threatens to drive a wedge between Beijing and a Trump administration that wants him released. The hearing, delayed by a day because of torrential rain, offers a last chance for government lawyers to cement their portrayal of the imprisoned 77-year-old as a radical political figure, while his defense team will make a final stand to stave off what could be an effective life sentence for the democracy advocate. Lai, wearing a pale beige windbreaker and glasses, looked older and more frail than when he appeared in court in December. He waved to the crowd in the courtroom. People in the audience, warned by judges in a new directive not to break silence, waved back and made heart signs. Prosecutors said a medical team is standing by in case Lai felt weak. Presided over by three hand-picked national security judges, the trial is being closely watched by Western governments, which see the prosecution as politically motivated. US President Donald Trump in May said he would raise the case as part of trade talks with Beijing, while the EU and the UK have called for Lai's release. The Hong Kong government maintains that its judicial system is independent and has repeatedly condemned what it calls foreign interference in its internal affairs. The outcome of the trial will be scrutinized globally as a barometer for the rule of law and civil liberties in the city, which has seen its political opposition effectively silenced since the security law was enacted in 2020. The erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong has blurred the lines between the former British colony and mainland China, which has invited foreign efforts to strip the city of favorable treatments it has long enjoyed as a semi-autonomous Chinese territory. In 2020, Trump cited Beijing's increased political control of the Asian financial hub for signing an executive order to remove preferential US policies for the city. Earlier this year, the tariffs he imposed on Chinese exports applied for the first time to Hong Kong goods. Concerns over Lai's deteriorating health have sharpened the focus on the proceedings, with his legal team and family highlighting his weight loss and the risks posed by diabetes while in custody. He has been kept behind bars for more than 1,600 days, much of it in solitary confinement. In a statement on Wednesday, authorities said that Lai receives appropriate medical attention and he requested to remove himself from association with other inmates. A verdict is expected weeks or months after the closing arguments, which are scheduled to take place over eight days. Lai faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of conspiring to collude with foreign forces under the Beijing-imposed national security law. He has previously been found guilty of offenses tied to his activism and convicted of fraud over a lease dispute. Over a marathon trial that began in late 2023, the prosecution has argued that Lai was the 'mastermind' behind a conspiracy to incite international sanctions against Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. They cited evidence including testimony from Lai's former colleagues and activist collaborators to contend that his newspaper, the now-defunct Apple Daily, was a tool to foment unrest and that his meetings with US officials constituted collusion with foreign forces. After prosecutors make their case, Lai's lawyers will cap a defense that saw the activist himself testify for 52 days. They previously argued that Lai's discussions were opinion and analysis, not a criminal plot. Lai and three of his companies are also charged with a colonial-era sedition offense for allegedly publishing materials that provoked hatred against the government between 2019 and 2021. Apple Daily was the most prominent pro-democracy newspaper in Hong Kong, known for its strong criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. It closed in June 2021 after police raided the newspaper's offices and arrested several executives and editors, and froze the company's assets. –BLOOMBERG
Malaysiakini
2 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
1st Chinese M'sian lieutenant general: 'No greater honour than serving nation'
The first ethnic Chinese lieutenant general in the 92-year history of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Johnny Lim, has shared that his greatest source of pride is serving the nation for more than four decades, rather than the accolades he received abroad. "I am prouder to have served the country for 41 years than to have received various international awards," he said. Among the awards were best student at the Australian Army Command and Staff College and honorary citizenship from South Korea for his contributions to its relationship with Malaysia. Sharing his views in an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini, Lim stressed that defending the country is not the responsibility of any one race, but a...
