China, PH ships collided near Escoda Shoal —Chinese exec

A collision involving a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship occurred near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Monday, according to a Chinese official.

In a statement on social media platform Weibo, CCG spokesperson Gan Yu alleged that PCG vessels BRP Bagacay and BRP Cape Engaño "illegally entered" the area without China's permission. He further accused BRP Bagacay of "deliberately" colliding with a CCG vessel.

"The Philippine ship No. 4410 (BRP Bagacay) ignored China's repeated stern warnings and deliberately collided with China's 21551 boat, which was normally safeguarding its rights and enforcing the law in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a collision," Gan stated.

The CCG reportedly took "control measures" against the Philippine vessels.

GMA News Online reached out to the PCG and the Philippine Navy for confirmation regarding this incident, but no response was received at the time of posting.

Former U.S. Air Force official and former defense attaché Ray Powell, who closely monitors China's activities in the WPS, noted that the CCG typically employs water cannons as a means of control.

Powell highlighted that China has been signaling its intention to challenge any Philippine missions to Sabina Shoal, where the BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed since April.

Gan emphasized that the responsibility for the incident rests solely with the Philippines. He urged the country to cease its actions immediately, warning that any further provocations would result in consequences borne by the Philippines alone.

Escoda Shoal, also known as Sabina Shoal, lies approximately 140 kilometers off the coast of Palawan and falls within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

BRP Teresa Magbanua has been stationed at Escoda Shoal since April amidst ongoing discussions aimed at de-escalating tensions in the South China Sea, despite China's expansive territorial claims in the region.

The South China Sea serves as a crucial shipping route, facilitating over $3 trillion in annual trade. Besides the Philippines, other countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei also lay claim to parts of this maritime expanse.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines concerning China's claims in the South China Sea, asserting that these claims lacked legal foundation. However, China has refused to accept this ruling.

— KBK, GMA Integrated News