Chinese ships ram Philippine Coast Guard vessels near Escoda Shoal

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has accused the Chinese Coast Guard of performing "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" after its ships rammed two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels in the West Philippine Sea early Monday.

Two PCG vessels sustained structural damages from colliding with Chinese Coast Guard ships during its supply mission to Patag and Lawak Islands in the waters near Escoda Shoal, according to a statement by Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea.

The first collision took place at 3:24 a.m. Monday when the BRP Cape Engaño was rammed by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, creating a 5-inch hole on its deck.

Minutes later, at 3:40 a.m., the BRP Bagacay was hit twice by another Chinese vessel causing minor structural damage to both sides of the ship.

This incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between Filipino and Chinese vessels occurring away from Ayungin Shoal, the submerged reef that is the focus of a deal reached by the Philippines with China in July to de-escalate tensions during resupply missions to the grounded warship stationed there.  

Both collisions took place some 20 nautical miles from Escoda Shoal, a coral reef formation located 140 kilometers west of Palawan that falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

"Despite these incidents, both PCG vessels remain committed to and shall proceed with their mission of delivering essential supplies to personnel stationed on Patag and Lawak Islands," Malaya said.

"The PCG stands firm in its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our maritime domain while addressing any threats to our national interests," he added.

Malaya also called for "restraint and adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and other relevant international laws" to deter another series of escalations and to ensure the safety of all vessels in the region.

'Deliberate' collision?

Chinese state media earlier reported that Philippine vessels "deliberately collided" with Chinese Coast Guard Vessels "despite multiple warnings from the Chinese side."

Chinese Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said the Philippine vessels "illegally intruded" into the waters adjacent Escoda Shoal, which it calls Sabina Shoal.

“The Philippines has repeatedly provoked and caused trouble, violated the temporary arrangements between China and the Philippines,” Gan said, referring to the provisional agreement struck between both countries in July concerning the Philippines' resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre. 

This flare-up of tensions comes days after Beijing filed a diplomatic protest against the presence of the BRP Teresa Magbanua near Escoda Shoal, which China claims as part of its Nansha Islands.

Maritime experts believe the temporary deal between the Philippines and China in July, the full text of which remains unpublicized, is limited only to avoiding further clashes in the waters near Ayungin Shoal. 

Ray Powell, Sealight director and defense and maritime expert, told Philstar.com that the Philippines should note that China has not given up on the rest of its ambitions in the South China Sea and will likely "take the opportunity to apply pressure in a different area."

China considers almost the entire South China Sea, including waters referred to by the Philippines as the West Philippine Sea, to be its territorial waters.

The Philippines filed a case against China in 2013, and three years later, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of Manila, declaring China's extensive claims had no legal basis.