Two Chinese Ships Collide While Chasing Filipino Patrol Boat In West Philippine Sea
According to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), two Chinese ships collided while chasing a Filipino Patrol Boat close to Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.
This happened while PCG was escorting boats that were providing aid to fishermen in the area.
Spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said that the PCG vessel was between the Chinese Coast Guard on the left and the Philippine Navy on the starboard side, and what happened is that the Chinese Coast Guard increased its speed, wanting to catch up with the Philippine Coast Guard vessel.
Perhaps the Chinese vessel wanted to block the PCG vessel, but the latter increased its speed, and there was a miscalculation.
When it turned, it could not pull back its sharp turn, so the nose of the Philippine Navy Warship got hit by the Chinese Coast Guard, he added.
The accident caused a lot of damage to the Chinese vessel’s forecastle and rendered it unseaworthy.
It remains unclear if anybody was injured in Monday’s incident.
Tarriela also added that the Chinese crew members did not respond to the Filipino Ship’s offer for help.
Additionally, the PCG Patrol Boat BRP Suluan was attacked with a water cannon by the Chinese, but it dodged it.
The PCG said that it escorted the Filipino fishermen to a safe location where they were provided with the necessary fuel and supplies.
The PCG added that it “safely escorted the Filipino fishermen to a secure location, where they are now being provided with essential fuel and supplies.”
This collision is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, where China claims it is its territory, despite international rulings that this assertion is baseless.
Over 60% of global maritime trade passes through this waterway.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that their patrol vessels would remain present in the region to defend and exercise Manila’s Sovereign rights over what it considers to be part of its territory.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said the collision was “a classic case of reaping what one sows.”
In a video statement, he added that China must stop engaging in dangerous manoeuvres against PCG and other maritime ships.
He also said that these moves pose a danger to the maritime personnel and fisherfolk, and also escalate tensions. Nothing good comes out of such actions, except the display of logistical superiority.
