Chinese Coast Guard Ship Collides With Philippine Research Vessel In Latest Altercation Around Spratly Islands
Two weeks ago, near the contested Spratly Islands, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel engaged in aggressive maneuvers with a Philippine Government research vessel, resulting in a collision and damage to the research ship’s hull. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel also fired water cannons at the Philippine ship, causing further damage.
The incident occurred on 22 May around the Spratly Islands, a hotly contested cluster of islands situated between Vietnam, China and the Philippines. The Philippine vessel, reportedly a scientific research vessel collecting sand samples off the island of Sand Cay when, according to a press release from the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, “at approximately 0913 hours, the Chinese vessel water cannoned and side swiped the BRP Datu Sunday twice”. According to officials, the lives of several crewmembers were endangered
Mao Ning, of the Chinese Foreign Affairs ministry, was reported as saying she was “not aware of the incident,” but maintained that “the Chinese Coast Guard always enforces the law in accordance with laws and regulations”. China has previously been criticized by the Philippines as “irresponsible”, as China has claimed Sandy Cay 2 is under Chinese control.
Philippine officials also noted that this was the first time such tactics were used near Sandy Cay, marking a notable escalation. However, while this is the first instance of these tactics being used near this particular island, similar aggressive tactics and maneuvers have been seen by the Chinese Coast Guard for some time, especially with Philippine ships. Last December, another Philippine vessel was side-swiped and water cannoned in a very similar incident, and last June saw a Philippine Navy sailor being seriously injured as a result of these altercations. Chinese Coast Guard ships also regularly “shadow” or closely follow any Philippine Coast Guard ships operating in this region, as well as close to the Philippine main islands.