The Philippine coast guard has accused a Chinese vessel of deliberately ramming a government boat near Thitu Island in the disputed Spratly archipelago. The incident, which occurred on Sunday morning, involved a Chinese coast guard ship firing a water cannon at the Philippine fisheries bureau vessel BRP Datu Pagbuaya before striking its stern.
According to a statement from Manila, the Chinese ship opened its water cannon at 9.15am local time, and three minutes later deliberately rammed the Philippine boat, causing minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew. The Philippines denounced the actions as 'bullying tactics' and vowed not to be intimidated.
Beijing, however, blamed Manila for the collision. Liu Dejun, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, said the Philippine vessel had ignored repeated stern warnings and dangerously approached the Chinese ship. The South China Sea is a region of ongoing tensions, with Beijing claiming nearly the entire area despite an international ruling that its claims have no legal basis.
