The Philippines has raised concerns over an incident in the South China Sea where China’s coast guard allegedly collided with a Filipino supply boat. The incident occurred as the Filipino vessel was en route to a Philippine outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal, an area that has witnessed heightened tensions in recent times.
Manila has criticized Beijing’s actions, describing them as “dangerous blocking manoeuvres” that jeopardized the safety of the Filipino crew. In contrast, China has countered these claims, suggesting that the Philippines was “deliberately stirring up trouble.”
The waters around the Second Thomas Shoal have been a hotspot for confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships. A small contingent of Filipino troops stationed on the outpost, which is essentially a stranded and deteriorating navy ship, relies on monthly supplies. While such supply missions have been routine, Filipino authorities have observed an increase in China’s aggressive maneuvers. This shift in behavior is believed to be a reaction to the Philippines’ President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who assumed office in June 2022 and has been fostering stronger military relations with Washington, a primary rival to Beijing in the region.
Another incident on the same day near the Second Thomas Shoal involved a Chinese militia vessel allegedly bumping into a Philippine coast guard ship. Despite these confrontations, a second supply ship managed to reach the Philippine outpost in the shoal.
The South China Sea, particularly the Spratlys where the Second Thomas Shoal is situated, has been a contentious area. Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, which overlaps with territorial claims by other nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam. In a landmark 2016 ruling, an international arbitration court in The Hague declared that China’s extensive sea claims lacked legal foundation. This judgment was based on a case presented by Manila, which China has consistently refused to acknowledge.