(Bloomberg) — The Philippines said a Chinese maritime militia vessel “deliberately sideswiped” and caused minor damage on a government fisheries boat in the South China Sea amid lingering tensions between the two nations in the disputed waters.
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The incident took place on Friday while two vessels of Manila’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boats conducted routine patrol near the Philippines-occupied Thitu Island in the Spratly Islands, according to a statement posted on the agency’s website on Tuesday.
“These dangerous maneuvers caused the sideswiping and collision with the BFAR vessel, which sustained minor dents in its starboard bow,” the agency said. The Philippine ship was able to continue with its mission in the cays near Thitu, it said, despite the moves by the Chinese boat.
Beijing, which claims nearly the entire waterway, said a Philippine government boat “sailed in a dangerous manner” and collided with a Chinese vessel that was operating normally in the waters under its jurisdiction.
The Philippines’ actions “have violated China’s sovereignty and seriously threatened the safety of Chinese fishing boats and personnel,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing on Tuesday. Mao said Manila should “stop any actions that may complicate the situation.”
Vessels of the two countries have repeatedly clashed in the South China Sea as the Philippines pushed back against Beijing’s expansive claims.
Read: Why China Keeps Ramming Philippine Ships and Where That’s Headed
–With assistance from Qianwei Zhang.
(Adds comment from China.)
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