Two Chinese ships collided in the Southern China Sea Monday while continuing a Philippin Patrol boat near the disputed Shoal of Scarborough, Manila officials said, publishing video sequences of the incident.
The video shows a ship from the Chinese coastal guard which draws a water cannon and following itself near a boat from the Coast Guard of the Philippines until it collided with a much larger people’s liberation crafts, leaving visible damage to the two Chinese ships.
Crew members on board the smallest Chinese ship had been visible just before the collision, said spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard Jay Tarriela, said at a press briefing. He said that the Chinese crew had not responded to an aid offer from the Filipino crew.
“We do not know if they were able to save these staff members who were in front of the collision. But we hope that these staff members are in good condition,” he said.
The Chinese army confirmed the confrontation, but did not confirm or refused the collision. “The Chinese Coast Guard has taken the necessary measures in accordance with the law, in particular surveillance, exterior pressure, blocking and controlling the Philippin ships to drive them out,” a spokesman for the Chinese coast guard, in a statement.
The incident occurs after days after the Philippine and Indian Marines conducted joint exercises at the Southern China Sea, held to counter the large -scale maritime demands of China.
The Shoal de Scarborough is a triangular chain of reefs located 125 nabin miles from the main Philippine Island of Luzon. In the past year, China has sought to strengthen its claim from the speaker, has set up large-scale military exercises and deployed the largest ship in the world’s coast guard, known as “The Monster”, in the region.
Includes France-Press agency reports.