Chinese and Philippine vessels collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, escalating tensions between the two countries. Both sides blame each other for the incident, with China claiming that a Philippine vessel deliberately collided with a Chinese ship, while the Philippines accuse Chinese vessels of aggressive and unlawful maneuvers.
The Sabina Shoal, located west of the Philippine island of Palawan, is at the center of the latest confrontation. China, despite an international tribunal ruling against its claims, continues to assert its control over almost the entire South China Sea.
Photographs and footage shared by the Chinese coast guard show the purported collision, with captions claiming that the Philippine vessel made a sudden change of direction that led to the crash. However, the Philippines maintain that their ships were damaged due to aggressive actions by Chinese vessels.
The incident has raised concerns about a potential conflict in the region, with fears that the United States, an ally of the Philippines, could be drawn into the dispute. Analysts believe that China’s goal is to advance towards the Sabina Shoal from the Second Thomas Shoal, encroaching on Philippine territory and asserting control over the area.
This clash in the South China Sea is the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between China and the Philippines, with both sides unwilling to back down from their claims in the disputed waters.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com
