Philippines calls out China for ‘unprovoked coercion’ in South China Sea

The Philippines on Tuesday accused China’s coast guard of carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” that led to a collision between its coast guard ship and a Chinese vessel during a resupply mission for Philippine troops in the South China Sea.

The Philippines on Tuesday accused China of “unprovoked acts of coercion and dangerous maneuvers” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, saying Chinese ships had fired water cannons at one of its vessels, injuring some crew.

China’s actions put “into question the sincerity of its calls for peaceful dialogue and lessening of tensions,” a Philippine task force on the South China Sea said in a statement.

Philippine vessels which were carrying out a resupply mission for Filipino troops near the Second Thomas Shoal were “harassed (and) blocked” by Chinese maritime militia and coast guard ships, which fired water cannons that shattered the windshield of one of its boats, causing minor injuries to at least four crew members, it said.

The Chinese coast guard’s “reckless” and “illegal” actions also led to the collision between a Chinese and Philippine ship, with the latter sustaining “minor structural damage,” Manila’s coast guard spokesperson said separately.

But China laid the blame on its neighbor, saying Philippine ships had illegally intruded into waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal, which it calls Renai Reef, so it had to take control measures.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/philippines-china-unprovoked-coercion-south-china-sea-rcna141803

---