Renewed tension in the South China Sea between Beijing and Manila. The Philippines announced on Monday March 25 that it had summoned a diplomat from the Chinese embassy two days after a new incident involving ships from the two countries. A new incident qualified as an illegal intrusion by China.

Manila expressed its "strong protests against the aggressive actions taken on Saturday by the Chinese coast guard and maritime militia" against a Philippine supply boat off the Second Thomas Atoll, a disputed reef between the two countries.

It is about 200 km from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 km from Hainan Island, the nearest large Chinese territory.

According to the Philippines, Chinese coast guards blocked a supply ship and damaged it using water cannons, injuring three soldiers. The Chinese coast guard, for their part, described their maneuvers as “regulation, interception and legitimate expulsion” of a foreign boat having “attempted to penetrate by force” into Chinese waters.

See also China Seas: the new Cold War?

“Solemn” protest from both sides

On Monday, the Chinese embassy in Manila said it had sent a “solemn” protest to the Philippines after this clash.

"On March 23, the Philippines violated its own commitments, ignored China's strong opposition and advance warnings, and insisted on sending a supply ship and two coast guard ships to arbitrarily enter the waters near the Ren'ai Reef in China's Nansha Islands," the embassy said in a statement, using the Chinese name for the Second Thomas Atoll.

It is an “illegal intrusion”, she insists.

Manila said it had filed a similar protest with China's foreign ministry.

“The Philippines has emphasized, among other things, that China has no right to be on Ayungin Atoll,” using the Filipino name for Second Thomas. “The Philippines demands that Chinese vessels leave the vicinity of Ayungin Atoll and the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone immediately.” 

Later on Monday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro challenged Beijing to seek arbitration, which he said was the "best way to resolve a legal dispute in a lasting manner." “That’s why they don’t like” this option, he told journalists. 

Beijing claims almost entire South China Sea despite legal

In recent months, Chinese ships have already used water cannons and collided with Philippine ships near this atoll. 

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including waters and islands near the coasts of several neighboring countries, despite an international court ruling in 2016.

According to Manila, the Philippine ship attacked on Saturday, which was conducting a routine rotation and resupply mission on the atoll, suffered damage. 

The coast guard escort vessel that provided assistance deployed rigid hull inflatable boats to transport its cargo and personnel to the atoll. 

Filipino soldiers stationed on the shoal live aboard a decommissioned navy ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, and need frequent resupply. The maritime connection is also necessary for staff rotations.

Read alsoChina Sea: when a ship from the Second World War crystallizes tensions

With AFP

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