MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The Philippine military accused China of crashing cars in an attempt to drive the Philippine Coast Guard and fishermen out of the disputed shoals in the South China Sea. It said it will assess how Beijing’s military power to civilians responded.
Philippine authorities said Monday’s accidental collision caused huge damage to the Chinese Coast Guard and Navy ships and possible injuries.
The confrontation near Scarborough Shoal is the latest outbreak of the most exciting territorial standoff in disputed waters, a flash point in Asia’s long-furious fray.
The United States, a long-term treaty ally of the Philippines, condemned “China’s latest reckless action against Philippine ships” on Tuesday.
The Chinese Coast Guard accused Philippine ships of confrontation on Monday and said it was forced to expel the ships after invading “China’s inherent territory.” It does not mention collisions or possible casualties.
Video footage released by the Philippine Coast Guard shows a Chinese naval ship with a bow number 164 slamming into the bow of the Chinese Coast Guard while trying to stop and force the Philippine patrol ship BRP Suluan away from Scarborough. The Chinese Coast Guard ship can be seen using water cannons.
The video shows a severely broken bow of a Chinese Coast Guard ship, where at least two Chinese personnel stood shortly before the crash. The Chinese naval ship holds deep grooves, which appear to be linearly cut on its hull.
BRP Suluan provided medical help to the Chinese Coast Guard via two-way broadcast, fearing that the collision could cause harm to its personnel, but the Philippine Coast Guard said there was no response.
Beijing’s Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Gan said on Monday that Philippine ships invaded Chinese territory beside the shallows, prompting his troops to take “necessary measures, including surveillance, forcing, intercepting, intercepting and controlling Philippine ships to expel them.”
Romeo Brawner Jr. Brawner, chief of staff of the Philippines, said the Chinese naval ship crashed into the Chinese Coast Guard, which also closely chased the Philippines ship.
“In this incident, China’s active actions were very obvious,” Brauna said. “They showed up because of their aggressive manipulation. We were there to protect the Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoals. That was our only goal because that was our traditional fishing ground.”
Brauna said when asked whether it was a tactical change in China’s deployment of military forces to oppose civilians. He said the Philippine military will assess how to consult with the Coast Guard and seek guidance from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Now they are deploying the PLA Navy, which is a symbol of China’s aggressiveness,” he said. “We will discuss possible steps and our future strategies to resist China’s actions to prevent us from getting a visit (going to Scarborough).
Chinese officials did not immediately comment on Brawner’s statement, but Gan Yu insisted that his troops would “resolutely protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
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Associated Press reporter Huizhong Wu contributed to the report.
