MANILA: The Philippines expressed serious concern on Tuesday over what it called “dangerous maneuvers and unlawful interference” by Chinese vessels during a coast guard supply mission for Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
Manila’s Coast Guard deployed three vessels on Monday to deliver supplies, such as fuel and ice, to dozens of fishermen operating around the disputed atoll when they encountered “hazardous” and “blocking actions” from Chinese vessels in the area.
“Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels,” the Philippine Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Philippine Coast Guard footage showed a Chinese Coast Guard ship trailing the PCG vessel before a Chinese navy ship suddenly cut across its path, colliding with it and damaging the Coast Guard’s forecastle. It was the first known collision between Chinese vessels in the area.
“Our assessment is that the real objective of the PLA Navy ship is to ram our Philippine Coast Guard (vessel). That is also (the) assessment of our Philippine Coast Guard,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner told reporters on Tuesday.
