Blame Game Escalates: China and Philippines Clash in South China Sea
Recent collisions in the South China Sea, causing tensions between China and the Philippines. Both countries accuse each other of provocative actions near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
China and the Philippines are involved in a blame game after two collisions occurred in the South China Sea near Second Thomas Shoal. China claims almost the entire sea and regularly deploys its vessels in the disputed waters to assert its sovereignty. The Chinese coastguard accused a Philippine vessel of carrying "illegal construction materials" to a World War II-era transport ship on the shoal.
BREAKING: The United States warns China, vows to defend The Philippines after the Philippines coast guard ship and supply boat were rammed by Chinese vessels at disputed Shoal in the South China Sea.
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) October 22, 2023
"The United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 U.S.-Philippines… pic.twitter.com/WtclI8XjVR
In another incident, a Philippine coastguard vessel escorting a routine resupply mission was bumped by a Chinese maritime militia vessel. The Philippines condemned the "dangerous blocking maneuvers" of the Chinese vessel, while China accused the Philippine boat of deliberately stirring up trouble. Both countries have had several run-ins in the South China Sea recently, especially near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal. A 2016 arbitration ruling by The Hague declared that China's claims in the area had no legal basis, a decision that China has rejected.