© AFP
The Philippine Coast Guard has accused China of provoking clashes with two of its ships on Tuesday. When water cannons were also used, four people were injured. The confrontations occurred on the sidelines of a supply mission in the South China Sea.
The clashes took place in the vicinity of the Second Thomas Shoal, a sandbar near the Spratly Islands, which are disputed by the two countries. Incidents occur regularly. The Philippines has permanently stationed troops there.
The Philippine Foreign Minister says he has summoned the Chinese representative in Manila. He was told that the “aggressive” activities were “unacceptable.”
For its part, China’s coast guard said it “took control measures” against “Philippine ships after they intruded into the waters off Ren’ai Reef in the Nansha Islands,” as China refers to the sites.
The Philippine flotilla, which consisted of two supply ships and two escort ships, was attacked as it approached the Second Thomas Shoal. Philippine units are stationed there aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, which the Philippine government deliberately left stranded there to serve as an outpost.
One of the supply ships, the Unaizah May 4, was targeted by water cannons from two Chinese ships. This broke the windows of his command post and injured four people, Manila said. There was also a “minor collision”, as with one of the escort ships. The Unaizah May 4 was unable to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre. The other ship, the Unaizah May 1, eventually succeeded. Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said the Philippine Navy “deliberately” collided with a Chinese ship.