China and the Philippines accused each other of colliding ships in the disputed South China Sea on Saturday, the latest standoff in the key waterway, Reuters reports.
China’s coast guard said a Philippine ship, “illegally left” off Sabina Shoal, had raised anchor and “intentionally rammed” into a Chinese ship, while the Philippine coast guard said the Chinese vessel “targetedly collided” with one of Manila’s ships.
Beijing claims the entire South China Sea, including parts belonging to the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
It is believed that parts of the sea, through which goods worth a total of three trillion dollars pass annually, are rich in oil and gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.
The Philippines and China again exchanged accusations over the incident in the South China Sea
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling that Beijing rejects.
Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun called on the Philippines to immediately withdraw from the reef area.
“The Chinese Coast Guard will take the necessary measures to prevent all attempts at provocation, harassment and transgression, and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Liu said.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said at a press conference that the Chinese Coast Guard disregarded collision regulations and performed dangerous maneuvers, which led to damage, but no injuries were reported.
The reef is located within the Philippine exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles.
