August 19th 2024.
The tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea have escalated once again, as China's coast guard has accused the Philippines of intentionally crashing one of its ships into a Chinese vessel near Sabina Shoal. This new incident adds to the already concerning territorial disputes between the two countries.
According to a spokesperson from the Chinese coast guard, two Philippine coast guard ships entered the waters near Sabina Shoal and ignored their warning before deliberately colliding with one of China's boats at 3:24 am on Monday. The Philippine authorities have not yet commented on the encounter near the disputed atoll, where Vietnam and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.
The Chinese spokesperson, Gan Yu, stated that the Philippines is solely responsible for this collision and warned them to stop their infringement and provocation. He also added that China has indisputable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, including Sabina Shoal and its surrounding waters. The Chinese name for Sabina Shoal is Xianbin Reef.
In a separate statement, Gan also mentioned that a Philippine ship was turned away from Sabina Shoal and entered the waters near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, ignoring the Chinese coast guard's warnings. He stated that the Chinese coast guard took legal measures against the Philippine ship in response.
Sabina Shoal, located west of the Philippines' island province of Palawan, has become a new area of conflict between China and the Philippines. In April, the Philippine coast guard deployed one of its key patrol ships, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, to Sabina after Filipino scientists discovered crushed corals in its shallows. This discovery raised concerns that China may be planning to build a structure in the atoll.
The Chinese coast guard also deployed a ship to Sabina in response. The shoal is near the Second Thomas Shoal, which is occupied by the Philippines and has been the site of alarming confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in the past year.
Last month, China and the Philippines reached an agreement to prevent further confrontations when the Philippines transports new batches of sentry forces, along with supplies, to the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine navy successfully transported food and personnel to the shoal without any incident, raising hopes that tensions in the area could eventually ease.
However, this recent collision near Sabina Shoal has once again heightened tensions between China and the Philippines. Stay updated on the latest breaking news, celebrity gossip, and sports updates by following our WhatsApp channel. We promise no pesky comments or algorithms, and your privacy is guaranteed.
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