Two coast guard ships, one from China and one from the Philippines, collided near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, causing damage to at least two vessels. Both countries blamed each other for the collision, with China accusing the Philippines of deliberately ramming its ships, while the Philippines claimed that the Chinese ships were responsible. Sabina Shoal, part of the disputed Spratly Islands, has recently become a hot spot for confrontations between the two nations. The collision occurred early Monday, and there were no reports of injuries.
China’s coast guard accused the Philippines of intentionally crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel. The Philippine side, however, denied this claim and accused the Chinese coast guard of causing the collisions. Video and photographs taken by journalists onboard one of the Philippine coast guard ships supported this assertion. The Philippine coast guard ships, BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño, experienced structural damage during the incident as they encountered aggressive maneuvers from Chinese coast guard vessels while en route to Patag and Lawak islands.
The Philippine coast guard reported that one of the Chinese ships rammed the BRP Cape Engaño, causing a 3.6-foot hole and damaging the engine exhaust. Another Chinese vessel reportedly struck the BRP Bagacay twice, resulting in a 3-foot wide hole and a 1-foot deep dent. Despite these confrontations, the Philippine coast guard remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of its maritime domain while addressing threats to its national interests. China claims sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, including Sabina Shoal, and the disputed area’s adjacent waters.
Sabina Shoal has emerged as a flashpoint in the territorial disputes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. The Philippines deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua to Sabina in response to suspicions that China was preparing to build a structure on the atoll. The Philippine navy reached an agreement with China last month to prevent further confrontations at Second Thomas Shoal, which has also been a site of tensions between the two countries. However, Monday’s collision near Sabina Shoal raises doubts about the effectiveness of the agreement in de-escalating tensions.
China has been embroiled in territorial disputes with multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region over its expansive maritime claims, including in the South China Sea. The country’s growing military power and assertiveness have led to more frequent confrontations with countries like the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Brunei, over territorial disputes. The United States has expressed support for the Philippines in condemning the dangerous maneuvers of the China coast guard near Sabina Shoal. A UN tribunal ruling in 2016 invalidated Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, although China rejected the ruling and did not participate in the proceedings.
