Chinese Coast Guard Vessel Narrowly Avoids Collision with Philippine Coast Guard Ship
In a tense encounter at Second Thomas Reef in the disputed South China Sea, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel approached dangerously close to a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. Fortunately, the Philippine ship managed to avert a collision by stepping back.
The incident occurred on the 4th of this month, as a supply ship was en route to deliver essential goods and supplies to a Philippine base in the area. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel initiated a blockade, leading to an eight-hour standoff between the two sides.
Both parties have expressed their perspectives on the incident. The Philippines described the situation as a “most dangerous operation,” with the Chinese vessel crossing just one meter in front of their ship. On the other hand, China defended its actions, claiming the Philippines had violated Chinese waters.
Territorial Dispute in the South China Sea
The Spratly Islands, including Second Thomas Reef, are at the center of a territorial dispute between China and the Philippines. While the Philippines has deployed military forces in the area to protect a grounded warship, China asserts its ownership based on the contentious nine-dash line.
The tensions between the two countries are not new. Last year, images emerged of China’s coast guard firing water cannons and closely tailing a Philippine supply ship, sparking controversy. In 2016, the Permanent International Court of Justice dismissed China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, a ruling that China has refused to accept.
As the situation escalates, both sides continue to patrol the disputed waters, raising concerns about a potential collision and further aggravation of the already volatile situation.
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A Chinese Coast Guard vessel approaches without stopping in front of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
It was a close call, but in the end, the Philippine ship took a step back and avoided the collision.
On the 4th, another war of nerves broke out between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guard vessels in the waters of Second Thomas Reef in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea and China’s Spratly Islands.
The Philippines said that when a supply ship set out to deliver food and supplies to its base in these waters, a blockade by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel began and the standoff lasted for eight hours.
At the same time, the Chinese side strongly condemned, saying it was the “most dangerous operation” that brought ships from both sides to the brink of collision.
[타리엘라/필리핀 해양 경비대 대변인 : 필리핀 경비정이 단 1m 거리에서 뱃머리를 가로지르는 중국 해안 경비대 선박과 충돌하는 것을 피하기 위해 신속하게 엔진을 역회전해 충돌을 피했다.]
However, China immediately issued a statement, warning the Philippines against unauthorized entry and announcing that it was monitoring the entire process.
[중국 선박 방송 : 중국 해경 4201호이다. 귀선은 중국 영해인 난사 군도를 침법했으니 즉각 물러나라.]
The Philippines deploys military forces in these waters to protect a warship that ran aground in 1999.
However, as it is located within the nine-dash line that China claims as its own territory, the territorial dispute between the two sides continues.
Last August, there was controversy when images were released of China’s coast guard firing water cannons or following closely behind a Philippine supply ship.
In 2016, the Permanent International Court of Justice ruled that China’s territorial claims had no basis in international law, but China has not accepted this.
(Reporting: Kwon Ran / Video reporting: Choi Deok-hyun / Video editing: Choi Eun-jin / Production: Digital News Editorial Department)
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