Südchinesisches Meer: Philippinen werfen China gefährliches Ramm-Manöver vor

In the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard reported another dangerous incident involving a Chinese coast guard ship. The incident occurred in the morning (local time) when the Chinese vessel rammed and damaged a Philippine fishery administration ship, according to the agency. No one was injured during the incident.

It took place approximately 54 nautical miles (100 kilometers) off the western coast of the Philippine province of Palawan. The Philippine ship, operated by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was en route to provide fuel to local fishermen. According to a spokesperson for the coast guard, Jay Tarriela, the Chinese vessel initially maintained a distance of about ten meters from the Philippine ship before cutting its course.

Roughly ten minutes later, the Chinese ship repeated the maneuver and rammed the Philippine vessel, causing significant damage to one side. Tarriela also shared videos purportedly capturing the incident. The spokesperson accused China of targeting a civilian government ship during its support mission for fishermen, putting the crew at risk.

He emphasized that "no violent ramming or dangerous maneuvering can change the fact that these waters belong to the Philippine people." Beijing has yet to respond. The disputed region frequently sees incidents and collisions between vessels from both countries. China claims nearly the entire South China Sea as its own. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other nations reject these claims, citing a 2016 UN Tribunal ruling.

However, China does not recognize the ruling. The resource-rich area is a crucial global trade route.