Philippines, China accuse each other of ship confrontation in East Sea

The Philippine Coast Guard accused the Chinese Coast Guard of spraying water cannons at a Philippine vessel today, December 4, near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

According to AFP, video released by Manila today appears to show a Chinese coast guard vessel ramming the starboard side of the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel belonging to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, while the crew shouts: "Collision! Collision!".

Photo taken by the Philippines and released on December 4

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a statement that the Chinese vessel "fired a water cannon... directly at the ship's navigation antenna." The Chinese vessel then "intentionally rammed the side" of the ship before launching a second round of water cannon, according to Tarriela.

Meanwhile, the China Coast Guard said that the Philippine vessels "came very close" and their actions "complied with the law", but did not provide further information on the moves Beijing used.

A spokesman for the China Coast Guard also said that the Philippine vessels had "dangerously approached" China Coast Guard "ordinary law enforcement patrol vessels," prompting China to take "control" action against them.

Scarborough Shoal lies 240 km west of the Philippines' main island of Luzon and nearly 900 km from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan, according to AFP.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/philippines-trung-quoc-cao-buoc-nhau-ve-vu-tau-hai-ben-doi-dau-o-bien-dong-185241204105125595.htm