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China, Philippines implicate each other of ramming ships in South China Sea

The Philippines and China exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea on Saturday, the most recent in an intensifying series of clashes in the essential waterway.

The crash near the Sabina Shoal was their fifth maritime conflict in a month in a longstanding competition.

Beijing declares practically the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Portions of the waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes each year, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, in addition to fish stocks.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China's. sweeping claims had no legal basis, a judgment Beijing rejects.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela revealed. videos of Saturday's conflict at a press conference, stating. China Coast Guard vessel 5205 directly and purposefully rammed. the Philippine vessel without justification.

The ramming damaged the 97-metre (320-foot) Teresa Magbanua,. among the Philippines' largest coast guard cutters, however no. workers were injured, Tarriela stated.

Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for China's coast guard, stated in a. statement a Philippine ship, illegally stranded at the shoal,. had actually lifted anchor and intentionally rammed a Chinese vessel. He. called on the Philippines to withdraw immediately or bear the. repercussions.

The Chinese coast guard will take the measures needed to. resolutely prevent all acts of provocation, nuisance and. infringement and resolutely safeguard the country's territorial. sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Liu stated.

Tarriela said Manila would not withdraw its ship in spite of. the harassment, the bullying activities and escalatory action of. the Chinese coast guard.

US CONDEMNS CHINESE 'OFFENSES'

The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines expressed. Washington's support for the Philippines, a treaty ally.

U.S. condemns the multiple unsafe infractions of. worldwide law by the PRC (Individuals's Republic of China),. including today's intentional ramming, Ambassador MaryKay. Carlson stated on social networks platform X.

The Philippines released a ship in April to the Sabina. Shoal, 75 nautical miles from the coast of the Philippine. province of Palawan. Manila accused Beijing of building an. synthetic island, stating it had documented piles of dead and. crushed coral on the sandbars, which Beijing rejects.

Today the Philippine maritime council said Chinese. airplane made hazardous manoeuvres versus a civilian airplane. carrying out patrols over two other challenged areas, the. Scarborough Shoal and Subi reef.

The Philippines accused China of blocking a routine resupply. mission on Sunday, stating Chinese vessels rammed and used water. cannons on a fisheries bureau ship transferring food, fuel and. medical products for Filipino anglers.

(source: Reuters)