China and Philippines clash after boats crash in 'dangerous manoeuvres'
The Philippines military said "China's actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea."
China and the Philippines have come to blows after the country's boats collided in the disputed South China Sea.
Both sides have blamed each other for the incident.
The Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) said that the Filipino ship ignored repeated “solemn warnings,” and instead proceeded to “dangerously and unprofessionally” toward its ship.
They added that “illegally breaking into the sea near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands."
The Nansha Islands is a Chinese name for the disputed Spratly Islands.
READ MORE: WW3 fears explode after warship collides with key ally in South China Sea
Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the Philippine Armed Forces’ public affairs office, said the Chinese were "deceptive and misleading".
The Philippine military added that it would "not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our exclusive economic zone".
It used the Philippine name for the shoal, where Filipino navy personnel have transported food, medicine and other supplies to a long-grounded warship that has served as Manila’s territorial outpost.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said his country’s armed forces would resist “China’s dangerous and reckless behavior,” which "contravenes their statements of good faith and decency".
“We will exert our utmost in order to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights.
“It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
The clash is one of many to have occurred in the South China Sea, of which China has tried to claim control of over 80 percent of the territory.
Its claim – known as the Nine Dash Line – is not recognised by international law.
The Philippines and other Asian countries all claim territorial control over various parts of the South China Sea.
As AP reports, China has increasingly become assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to a rising number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.
A new law by China, which took effect Saturday, authorizes its coast guard to seize foreign ships “that illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The law renewed a reference to 2021 legislation that says China’s coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.
