A Chinese coast guard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists in the disputed South China Sea, causing a near-collision, an AFP team on board another boat saw.
“We would have collided on the bow had I not cut the engine and thrown it in reverse,” Malapascua commanding officer Rodel Hernandez told reporters of Sunday’s close call, describing it as an encounter between “David and Goliath.”
Hernandez said Chinese boats routinely blocked his and other Philippine coast guard ships during their patrols near the shoal.However, Sunday was the “closest” he had seen vessels from the rival fleets come to a collision.The Malapascua and Malabrigo had broadcast their intention to sail into the shoal to conduct a “site survey” and asked the Chinese vessels to “stay clear from our passage”.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including the Spratly Islands, ignoring an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Marcos has meanwhile gravitated towards the Philippines’ traditional ally, the United States, as he seeks to strengthen their defense ties.
China has warned the expanded EDCA could endanger regional peace, and accused Washington of having a “zero-sum mentality.”
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