The Sabina Shoal is the latest flashpoint in the maritime confrontation between Manila and Beijing.
China and the Philippines have accused each other of colliding their ships in a disputed area of the South China Sea, as confrontation between them over the vital waterway escalates.
China’s coast guard said on Saturday that a Philippine ship “illegally stranded” at Sabina Shoal “intentionally rammed a Chinese vessel.” The Philippine coast guard said a Chinese ship “intentionally rammed” a Manila-based vessel.
No injuries were reported as a result of the collision.
The disputed Sabina Shoal lies 140 km (87 mi) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 km (746 mi) from the nearest Chinese landmass, Hainan Island.
China Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said it would take measures to “resolutely foil all acts of provocation, disturbance and violation and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”
“China exercises indisputable sovereignty in the region,” Liu said.
Philippine Coast Guard spokesman J. Tarriella said the Chinese Coast Guard had violated collision rules and taken dangerous actions.
Tarriela said the collision occurred three times, causing hits and damage to the ship’s port forepart, starboard portion and port beam.
“It is important for us to note that this collision happened despite our unprovoked action and our presence at Escoda Shoal,” Tarrille told reporters, using the Filipino name for Sabina Shoal.
The shoal is located within the Philippines’ 200 nautical mile (370 km) exclusive economic zone. It is also the rendezvous point for Philippine resupply missions to the garrison located on Second Thomas Shoal.
The clashes follow a similar incident this week, when China’s coast guard said it had rescued Philippine “personnel” who fell into the sea after the two countries exchanged gunfire over confrontational vessels.
In June, a Filipino sailor lost his thumb in a clash when members of the Chinese coast guard attacked with knives, sticks and axes to thwart a Filipino navy attempt to resupply a small military base.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, parts of which are claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
The sea is believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves, as well as fish stocks, and handles trade worth $3 trillion annually.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China’s claim to the region had no legal basis, which Beijing rejected.
China has deployed several ships to protect its claims.
