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full screen A ship belonging to the Chinese Coast Guard. Archive image. Photo: Aaron Favila/AP/TT
Ships from China and the Philippines have “collided” in a disputed area in the South China Sea on the night of Monday, the Chinese coast guard claims.
From Beijing’s side, it is said that a Philippine ship “deliberately collided” with a Chinese one, according to a spokesperson for the coast guard. The Philippine government, for its part, said in a statement that two of its coast guard ships were damaged as a result of Chinese ships carrying out “illegal and aggressive maneuvers” near a reef.
China claims large parts of the South China Sea, but the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam also believe they have rights to parts of the waters. Military markings and provocations are recurring in waters in the area.