Collision between Chinese, Philippine ships intensifies tensions in South China Sea

The tensions have led to more frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines, whose security the U.S. is treaty-bound to ensure.

Tensions over disputed waters and maritime features in the South China Sea have intensified as China accused a Philippines coast guard ship of intentionally colliding with a Chinese vessel on August 31.

Chinese coast guard spokesperson Liu Dejun was quoted in a social media post as saying that the Philippine ship with hull number 9701 collided with the Chinese ship 5205 just after 12:06 p.m on August 31.

China is rapidly expanding its military and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea which is crucial to international trade.

As the Philippine ship maneuvered, it “deliberately collided” with the Chinese coast guard ship “in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a collision,” Liu was quoted as saying. He added that the Chinese ship was operating within regulations.

The tensions have led to more frequent confrontations, primarily with the Philippines, whose security the U.S. is treaty-bound to ensure. The longtime territorial disputes in the sea also involve Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.

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China has rejected a ruling by a U.N.-backed arbitration panel that negated almost all of Beijing's historically-based claims in the South China Sea, as per an Associated Press report

On August 27, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the U.S. military is open to consultations about escorting Philippine ships in the disputed waters amid the spike in hostilities.

U.S. President Joe Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan started his second day of meetings with top Chinese officials in Beijing on August 28, aimed at quieting tensions between the two superpowers ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. election. Sullivan, China's top diplomat Wang Yi and others are meeting as the two countries are at odds over the Middle East and Ukraine, Chinese territorial claims from Taiwan to the South China Sea and trade.

Chinese military regularly clash with Philippine vessels during attempts to resupply Filipino sailors stationed in parts of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. As these clashes grow hostile, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to their ships, the Philippine government has faced questions about invoking the treaty alliance with Washington.

The latest incident came days after Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships collided near Sabina Shoal, a disputed atoll. At least two vessels were reported to be damaged in Monday’s collision but there were no reports of injuries.

Sabina Shoal lies about 140 kilometers (85 miles) west of the Philippine province of Palawan, in the internationally recognized exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

China claims most of the South China Sea, a key conduit for $3 trillion of annual ship-borne trade, as its own territory. Beijing rejects the 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration which said its expansive maritime claims had no legal basis.

With agency inputs