Moment Chinese ships smash into each other while chasing vessel in latest clash in South China Sea
Dramatic footage released by Manila showed a massive Chinese warship bearing the number 164 on its hull smashing into a China Coast Guard ship with a loud crash.
4
The damaged Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, is seen beside a Chinese Navy vessel, left, after they accidentally collided
Credit: AP
4
The Chinese vessel suitained major damages in the hull
Credit: AP
4
The damaged Chinese Navy ship is seen after an accidental collision
Credit: AP
4
Footage from the Philippine Coast Guard shows the collision
Credit: AP
It showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward.
The Chinese ship sustained major damage to its hull after crashing into its own coast guard ship.
The collision took place near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.
Footage before the crash shows the PLA's navy vessel coming dangerously close to the Philippine Coast Guard ship in a show of force.
The Philippine Coast Guard were escorting boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area when the Chinese navy vessels began chasing them, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
He added: "The [China Coast Guard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Filipino coast guard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA's Navy warship.
"This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy."
The Philippine vessel was also "targeted with a water cannon" by the Chinese but "successfully" evaded it, Tarriela's said.
The crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel had been visible in its front section just before the collision.
Tarriela's said: "We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision.
"But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition."
Manila says the Chinese crew "never responded" to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance.
Russia and China begin massive war games in Sea of Japan after Trump sends two nuclear submarines to face down Putin
Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, confirmed that a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision.
"The China Coast Guard took necessary measures per the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away," he said.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it.
The crash is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims the region almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis.
More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway.
Speaking at a morning news conference, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country's patrol vessels would "continue to be present" in the area to defend.
He added the country's navy would also exercise Manila's sovereign rights over the region.
The Scarborough Shoal - a triangular chain of reefs and rocks - has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Artist covers sculpture in plastics as sign for delegates at pollution summit
As nations began a second week of negotiations on Monday for a global accord to end plastic pollution, an artist heaped piles of plastic waste onto a large sculpture in front of the United Nations office. Delegates to the treaty talks pass by the sculpture daily in a reminder of their responsibility to solve the plastic pollution crisis. The talks are scheduled to conclude on Thursday. Benjamin Von Wong, a Canadian artist and activist, designed the nearly six-metre tall sculpture called the Thinker's Burden and built it with a team. It is his take on the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin, The Thinker in Paris. There is a male figure in deep thought, like Rodin depicted. Benjamin Von Wong hopes the entire sculpture will be covered in plastic waste by the time the summit concludes (Jennifer McDermott/AP) But instead of sitting atop a rock, Mr Von Wong's figure sits atop Mother Earth while cradling a baby and clutching plastic bottles. A strand of DNA intertwines them to highlight the health impacts of plastic pollution. With the help of volunteers, Von Wong is adding plastic waste to the installation over the course of the negotiations to reflect the growing cost of inaction. He climbed a ladder on Monday to reach the top of the sculpture and weave plastic bottles through the DNA. He put a plastic toy car in front. 'By the end of this week, we should have a sculpture almost completely drowned in plastics, however, the hope is, a strong and ambitious plastics treaty means that we can solve this problem once and for all,' he said. About 3,700 people are taking part in the talks, representing 184 countries and more than 600 organisations. They are aiming to craft the first global, legally binding treaty on plastics pollution.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Moment Chinese ships smash into each other while chasing vessel in latest clash in South China Sea
THIS is the moment a Chinese navy warship crashed into its own coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in South China Sea. Dramatic footage released by Manila showed a massive Chinese warship bearing the number 164 on its hull smashing into a China Coast Guard ship with a loud crash. 4 The damaged Chinese Coast Guard ship, right, is seen beside a Chinese Navy vessel, left, after they accidentally collided Credit: AP 4 The Chinese vessel suitained major damages in the hull Credit: AP 4 The damaged Chinese Navy ship is seen after an accidental collision Credit: AP 4 Footage from the Philippine Coast Guard shows the collision Credit: AP It showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward. The Chinese ship sustained major damage to its hull after crashing into its own coast guard ship. The collision took place near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. Footage before the crash shows the PLA's navy vessel coming dangerously close to the Philippine Coast Guard ship in a show of force. The Philippine Coast Guard were escorting boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area when the Chinese navy vessels began chasing them, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said. He added: "The [China Coast Guard vessel] CCG 3104, which was chasing the [Filipino coast guard vessel] BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Philippine] vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA's Navy warship. "This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy." The Philippine vessel was also "targeted with a water cannon" by the Chinese but "successfully" evaded it, Tarriela's said. The crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel had been visible in its front section just before the collision. Tarriela's said: "We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision. "But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition." Manila says the Chinese crew "never responded" to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance. Russia and China begin massive war games in Sea of Japan after Trump sends two nuclear submarines to face down Putin Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, confirmed that a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision. "The China Coast Guard took necessary measures per the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away," he said. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it. The crash is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Beijing claims the region almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway. Speaking at a morning news conference, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country's patrol vessels would "continue to be present" in the area to defend. He added the country's navy would also exercise Manila's sovereign rights over the region. The Scarborough Shoal - a triangular chain of reefs and rocks - has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Nagasaki hopes atomic bombing will be the last on Earth as it marks anniversary
The southern Japanese city of Nagasaki on Saturday marked 80 years since the US atomic attack that killed tens of thousands and left survivors who hope their harrowing memories can help make their hometown the last place on Earth to be hit by a nuclear bomb. The United States launched the Nagasaki attack on August 9 1945, killing 70,000 by the end of that year, three days after the bombing of Hiroshima that killed 140,000. Japan surrendered on August 15 1945, ending the Second World War and the country's nearly half-century of aggression across Asia. About 2,600 people, including representatives from more than 90 countries, attended a memorial event at Nagasaki Peace Park, where mayor Shiro Suzuki and prime minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke, among other guests. At 11:02am, the exact time when the plutonium bomb exploded above Nagasaki, participants observed a moment of silence as a bell rang. Visitors bow to pray at the bottom of the Nagasaki Peace Statue (Eugene Hishiko/AP) Dozens of doves, a symbol of peace, were released after a speech by Mr Suzuki, whose parents are survivors of the attack. He said the city's memories of the bombing are 'a common heritage and should be passed down for generations' in and outside Japan. 'The existential crisis of humanity has become imminent to each and every one of us living on Earth,' Mr Suzuki said. 'In order to make Nagasaki the last atomic bombing site now and forever, we will go hand-in-hand with global citizens and devote our utmost efforts toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realisation of everlasting world peace.' Survivors and their families gathered Saturday in rainy weather at Peace Park and nearby Hypocentre Park, located below the bomb's exact detonation spot, hours before the official ceremony. 'I simply seek a world without war,' said Koichi Kawano, an 85-year-old survivor who laid flowers at the Hypocenter monument decorated with colourful paper cranes and other offerings. Some others prayed at churches in Nagasaki, home to Catholic converts who went deep underground during centuries of violent persecution in Japan's feudal era. The twin bells at Urakami Cathedral, which was destroyed in the bombing, also rang together again after one of the bells that had gone missing following the attack was restored by volunteers. Despite their pain from wounds, discrimination and illnesses from radiation, survivors have publicly committed to a shared goal of abolishing nuclear weapons. But they worry about the world moving in the opposite direction. Ageing survivors and their supporters in Nagasaki now put their hopes of achieving nuclear weapons abolition in the hands of younger people, telling them the attack is not distant history, but an issue that remains relevant to their future. 'There are only two things I long for: the abolition of nuclear weapons and prohibition of war,' survivor Fumi Takeshita said. 'I only see a world where nuclear weapons are never used and everyone can live in peace.' In hopes of passing on the lessons of history, Ms Takeshita visits schools to share her experience with children. 'When you grow up and remember what you learned today, please think what each of you can do to prevent war,' Ms Takeshita, 83, told students during a school visit earlier this week. Teruko Yokoyama, an 83-year-old member of a Nagasaki organisation supporting survivors, said she feels the absence of those she has worked, which fuels her strong desire to document the lives of remaining survivors. The number of survivors has fallen to 99,130, about a quarter of the original number, with their average age exceeding 86. Survivors worry about fading memories, as the youngest of the survivors were too young to recall the attack clearly. 'We must keep records of the atomic bombing damages of the survivors and their lifetime story,' said Ms Yokoyama, whose two sisters died after suffering illnesses linked to radiation. Her organisation has started to digitalise the narratives of survivors for viewing on YouTube and other social media platforms with the help of a new generation. 'There are younger people who are beginning to take action,' Ms Yokoyama said. 'So I think we don't have to get depressed yet.' Teruko Yokoyama, vice chairwoman of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) Nagasaki hosted a 'peace forum' on Friday where survivors shared their stories with more than 300 young people from around the country. Seiichiro Mise, a 90-year-old survivor, said he is handing seeds of 'flowers of peace' to the younger generation in hopes of seeing them bloom. Survivors are frustrated by a growing nuclear threat and support among international leaders for developing or possessing nuclear weapons for deterrence. They criticise the Japanese government's refusal to sign or even participate in the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons because Japan, as an American ally, needs US nuclear possession as deterrence. In Mr Ishiba's speech, the prime minister reiterated Japan's pursuit of a nuclear-free world and pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation between countries with nuclear weapons and non-nuclear states at the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review conference scheduled for April and May 2026 in New York City. Mr Ishiba, however, did not mention the nuclear weapons ban treaty. Nagasaki invited representatives from all countries to attend the ceremony Saturday. China notably notified the city it would not be present without providing a reason. The ceremony last year stirred controversy due to the absence of the US ambassador and other Western envoys in response to the Japanese city's refusal to invite Israel.
