00:23Mandatory Credit: Philippines Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard released still images it says show damage to its vessel after an incident involving a China Coast Guard vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea on Monday.
Pictures taken by the Philippine Coast Guard show the ship's damaged hull and decks, with debris following the collision.
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said a Chinese ship punched a hole in the hull of a Philippine ship, the BRP Bagacay, before a second collision dented and damaged the ship's guardrails, while another Philippine ship, the BRP Engano, reportedly also suffered damage. The incident took place near the Sabina Atoll, 140 kilometres west of the Philippine island of Palawan, at 03:24 Monday local time (19:24 GMT Sunday). Manila said its vessels had "encountered unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres", while on their way to supply Filipino personnel on two islands.
On Tuesday, Philippine military officials accused China of attempting to force 'sea control of the entire South China Sea which they treat as their backyard', while assuring that Manila 'will not escalate this situation'. Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad said that the presence of Chinese vessels was 'illegal, their actions are coercive and aggressive, their messages are deceptive'.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla reiterated that Manila 'strongly condemned the dangerous actions' of Beijing in the disputed waters, adding that the country reaffirms their commitment to exercising rights "in accordance with International Law particularly UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention."
Meanwhile, Beijing denied responsibility for the incident, accusing Manila of being 'entirely responsible for the collision' and warning Manila 'to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise, it will bear all the consequences arising from that'.
The Spratly Islands include the Second Thomas Atoll, a submerged coral reef where a small Filipino garrison is stationed on a military ship left behind in 1999. It is located about 200 kilometres from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 km from the Chinese island of Hainan.
The area is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. It comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over South China Sea territorial disputes.
Philippine Coast Guard vessel damaged in altercation with China in disputed waters *STILLS*
The Philippine Coast Guard released still images it says show damage to its vessel after an incident involving a China Coast Guard vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea on Monday.
Pictures taken by the Philippine Coast Guard show the ship's damaged hull and decks, with debris following the collision.
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said a Chinese ship punched a hole in the hull of a Philippine ship, the BRP Bagacay, before a second collision dented and damaged the ship's guardrails, while another Philippine ship, the BRP Engano, reportedly also suffered damage. The incident took place near the Sabina Atoll, 140 kilometres west of the Philippine island of Palawan, at 03:24 Monday local time (19:24 GMT Sunday). Manila said its vessels had "encountered unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres", while on their way to supply Filipino personnel on two islands.
On Tuesday, Philippine military officials accused China of attempting to force 'sea control of the entire South China Sea which they treat as their backyard', while assuring that Manila 'will not escalate this situation'. Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad said that the presence of Chinese vessels was 'illegal, their actions are coercive and aggressive, their messages are deceptive'.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla reiterated that Manila 'strongly condemned the dangerous actions' of Beijing in the disputed waters, adding that the country reaffirms their commitment to exercising rights "in accordance with International Law particularly UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention."
Meanwhile, Beijing denied responsibility for the incident, accusing Manila of being 'entirely responsible for the collision' and warning Manila 'to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise, it will bear all the consequences arising from that'.
The Spratly Islands include the Second Thomas Atoll, a submerged coral reef where a small Filipino garrison is stationed on a military ship left behind in 1999. It is located about 200 kilometres from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 km from the Chinese island of Hainan.
The area is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. It comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over South China Sea territorial disputes.
Mandatory Credit: Philippines Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard released still images it says show damage to its vessel after an incident involving a China Coast Guard vessel in disputed waters in the South China Sea on Monday.
Pictures taken by the Philippine Coast Guard show the ship's damaged hull and decks, with debris following the collision.
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said a Chinese ship punched a hole in the hull of a Philippine ship, the BRP Bagacay, before a second collision dented and damaged the ship's guardrails, while another Philippine ship, the BRP Engano, reportedly also suffered damage. The incident took place near the Sabina Atoll, 140 kilometres west of the Philippine island of Palawan, at 03:24 Monday local time (19:24 GMT Sunday). Manila said its vessels had "encountered unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres", while on their way to supply Filipino personnel on two islands.
On Tuesday, Philippine military officials accused China of attempting to force 'sea control of the entire South China Sea which they treat as their backyard', while assuring that Manila 'will not escalate this situation'. Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Trinidad said that the presence of Chinese vessels was 'illegal, their actions are coercive and aggressive, their messages are deceptive'.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla reiterated that Manila 'strongly condemned the dangerous actions' of Beijing in the disputed waters, adding that the country reaffirms their commitment to exercising rights "in accordance with International Law particularly UNCLOS and the Chicago Convention."
Meanwhile, Beijing denied responsibility for the incident, accusing Manila of being 'entirely responsible for the collision' and warning Manila 'to immediately stop its infringement and provocation, otherwise, it will bear all the consequences arising from that'.
The Spratly Islands include the Second Thomas Atoll, a submerged coral reef where a small Filipino garrison is stationed on a military ship left behind in 1999. It is located about 200 kilometres from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 km from the Chinese island of Hainan.
The area is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. It comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over South China Sea territorial disputes.