A ship from the Philippines and a vessel from the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) collided this Friday in waters near the Sabina reef, in the South China Sea, an atoll that Beijing calls Xianbin Jiao and whose sovereignty is a matter of dispute between both countries.
The CCG has reported the incident, pointing to the Filipino vessel for "ignoring repeated warnings." According to their version, "Suddenly, it crossed in front of the bow of a Coast Guard vessel causing a collision."
Chinese authorities have attributed responsibility for the incident to the Philippines, arguing that "they severely violated international law and endangered the safety of Chinese vessels," according to information published by the newspaper 'Global Times.'
From Beijing, Manila has been urged to "put an end to all acts of incursion and provocation," also warning that this episode will have "consequences."
The incident adds to the escalation of frictions between the two countries. China claims most of these waters as part of its territory, as they are included within the so-called "nine-dash line" that appears on its official maps, a delineation with which it claims the South China Sea as its own, including the Paracel and Spratly Islands.
In this context, relations between China and the Philippines remain tense and marked by recurring clashes. Manila accuses Beijing of blocking its troop resupply operations in areas it considers integrated into its exclusive economic zone.