Manila, Philippines (AP) – Philippines The military on Tuesday denounced China for clashes between two Chinese navy and coast guard vessels as they tried to drive Philippine coast guards and fishermen out of contested shallow waters. South China Sea. He said it would evaluate how Beijing responds to the use of military force against civilians.
Philippine authorities said the accidental clash on Monday caused severe damage to China’s coast guard and naval vessels, potentially causing injuries.
Nearby conflict Scarborough shawl The latest flare-up was Long-standing Territory Standoffs In the contested waters, there are long-standing Asian flashpoints.
US, Allies of long-standing treaties Of the Philippines, on Tuesday it denounced “the latest reckless actions by China directed at a Philippine ship.”
The Chinese Coast Guard on Monday blamed the Philippine ship for the conflict and said it was forced to expel the ship after invading “China’s inherent territory” despite warnings. They did not mention the possible conflict or casualties.
Video footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows a Chinese Navy ship with bow number 164 hitting the bow of a Chinese Coast Guard ship, blocking and enforcing BRP Surang, a Philippine patrol ship away from Scarborough. Chinese Coast Guard ships can be viewed using their water cannons.
This video shows a badly crushed bow from a Chinese Coast Guard ship. There, at least two Chinese were seen standing just before the crash. The Chinese Navy ship maintained a deep dent and was thought to have a linear cut of the hull.
BRP Suluan provided medical assistance to the Chinese coast guard over two-way radio and feared the clashes had caused personnel injuries, but the Philippine coast guard said there was no response.
Gang Yu, a spokesman for China’s coast guard in Beijing, said on Monday that Philippine ships had invaded China’s territory from the shallows, urging them to “take necessary measures including monitoring, enforcing, intercepting and controlling the Philippine ships,” and urged them to be expelled.
General Romeo Broner Jr., the chief of the Philippine army, told reporters in Manila that the video footage clearly showed that the Chinese Navy ship piloted to attack BRP Surang. As a result, the Chinese naval vessels collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel instead.
“In this incident, China’s aggressive actions were very clear,” Brawner said. “They were negligent due to their offensive maneuvering. We were there to protect Filipino fishermen at Scarborough Shawls, because that’s our traditional fishing grounds.”
Asked if the deployment of military force against Chinese civilians was a change in tactics, Brawner said. He said he would evaluate how the Philippine forces respond in consultation with the Coast Guard and call for leadership from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Now they are deploying the Pra Navy, which is one of the symbols of China’s aggression,” he said, referring to China’s People’s Liberation Army. “We will discuss possible steps and future tactics to counter China’s actions to halt access (to Scarborough).”
Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Broner’s statement, but Gang Yu argued that the forces “will firmly protect China’s territory sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
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Associated Press journalist Huizhong Wu contributed to this report.
