Manila, Beijing trade barbs over latest South China Sea incident
The Philippines says a Chinese government ship damaged one of its research vessels operating in a contested part of the South China Sea. Beijing blames the Philippine side for the incident.
The Philippines' Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources calls the actions of a China Coast Guard ship "aggressive interference." The bureau says two Philippine vessels were conducting routine scientific research near a sandbar in the Spratly Islands on Wednesday.
It says the Chinese ship "water cannoned and sideswiped" one of the Philippine vessels twice. The Philippine side also says the actions damaged the vessel's port bow and smokestack and endangered the lives of civilian personnel onboard.
Philippine officials released a video that they say shows the Chinese ship approaching the Philippine vessel from behind before colliding and firing a water cannon.
The Philippines says this "marks the first time water cannons have been used against" the bureau's research vessels around the sandbar.
The area lies between the Philippine-controlled island of Thitu and Subi Reef where China built an artificial island. The waters are claimed by the Philippines, China and other parties.
A China Coast Guard spokesperson says its ship responded in accordance with the law after the two Philippine vessels illegally landed personnel on the sandbar.
The official says one of the Philippine vessels ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese side, got dangerously close to the Chinese ship and scraped against it. The official adds that the Philippine side is fully responsible for the incident.
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