China, Philippines trade accusations over collision in South China Sea

BEIJING/MANILA: China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked a Philippine boat supplying forces there on Sunday, the latest in a series of maritime confrontations.
The two countries have had numerous run-ins in areas of the South China Sea in recent months, especially the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands.

Read AlsoChina says it 'lawfully' blocked Philippine ships going to disputed shoal

China's coast guard has claimed that it lawfully blocked Philippine vessels carrying illegal construction materials to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The two countries have been having regular conflicts in the area, particularly at the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines has been

Philippines says a coast guard ship and supply boat are hit by Chinese vessels near disputed shoal

A Philippine government task force said the collisions occurred off Second Thomas Shoal as two Philippine supply boats escorted by two Philippine coast guard ships were heading to deliver food and other supplies to the atoll in the face of a years-long Chinese blockade. The shoal is one of the most

The Philippines has been sending supplies to troops stationed on a rusted World War Two-era transport ship used as an outpost on the shoal, prompting China's coast guard to repeatedly deploy vessels to block the resupply missions.
In the incident on Sunday morning, China's coast guard said there had been a "slight collision" between one of its ships and the Philippine boat while the coast guard was "lawfully" blocking the boat from transporting "illegal construction materials" to the warship.

Manila responded by condemning "in the strongest degree" the "dangerous blocking manoeuvres" of the Chinese vessel.
China's "dangerous, irresponsible and illegal actions" were "in violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction", Manila's Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.
The United States expressed support for the Philippines, denouncing China's "disruption of a legal Philippine resupply mission".

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