MANILA, The Philippines and China blamed each other for two ship collisions today. near the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.

The Philippine government's task force said in a statement: The dangerous blockade of a Chinese Coast Guard ship caused it to collide with a local resupply ship contracted by the Philippine military. The incident occurred in waters about 25 kilometers from the shoal, while China's state television station CCTV reported citing the Foreign Ministry that A non-violent crash occurred after a Philippine boat ignored repeated warnings. and deliberately sailed past Chinese law enforcement in an unprofessional and dangerous manner.

As for the ship colliding again The Philippine government's task force stated that A Philippine Coast Guard ship accompanying a regular resupply ship was hit by a Chinese maritime force ship. While China accused the Philippine ship of Deliberately causing disruption by turning the bow of the boat in a way intended to aim directly at the Chinese fishing boat, US Ambassador to the Philippines Mary Kay Carlson said. The United States strongly condemns China's latest disruption to legitimate Philippine resupply missions. This puts Filipino soldiers in danger.

Chinese ships surround a Philippine resupply ship, 22 Aug. 2023.

Zenkand Shoals Thomas is 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from the Chinese island of Hainan. Both countries claim the shoal. The Philippine Navy has been stranding the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship, on the shoal since 1999 to monitor Chinese movements. By stationing a number of personnel on board the ship and having to rely on survival items from the ship to replenish supplies. - Thai News Agency

Source: Thai News Agency