A Chinese vessel was "dangerously approached" by a Philippine ship in the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, according to the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) on Monday, June 17.
BREAKING: Beijing says Philippine ship has collided with a Chinese vessel in the South China Sea | Via @AFP, DZRH News#SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/vPVhcw9fGE
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) June 17, 2024
In a statement, the CCG said, "The Philippine replenishment ship ignored many solemn warnings from the Chinese side."
It allegedly approached the Chinese vessel in an unprofessional way, resulting in a collision.
The CCG accused the ship of having "illegally broken into the sea near Ren'ai Reef in China's Nansha Islands," using the Chinese name for the Spratly Islands.
"The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with the law," it said.
Meanwhile, the statement made no mention of injuries or damage to either vessel.
China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
It also disregards the 2016 Arbitral ruling and United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international ruling that China believes has no legal basis.
China previously issued new rules on the South China Sea, warning the Philippines about intruding into its territorial waters.
The South China Sea is inside the 200 nautical miles of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
