Philippines reports ‘confrontation’ with Chinese vessels in South China Sea

MANILA: The Philippines Coast Guard announced on Friday, April 28, that it was involved in a fight with Chinese ships that engaged in” serious manoeuvres” in the South China Sea. This was the most uncomfortable coastal exchange between the two nations in recent memory.

The incident happened while the Coast Guard was conducting a week-long guard of the key waterway and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang was in Manila next weekend to visit President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his counterpart from the Philippines.

The South China Sea, through which an estimated$ 3 trillion worth of goods pass annually, is largely claimed by China. Beijing has been repeatedly urged by the Philippines to halt its” angry activities” there.

More than 100″ alleged Chinese maritime militia vessels, a People’s Liberation Army Navy corvette class, and two China Coast Guard vessels” were found within the 200-mile ( 322km ) exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, according to the coast guard, during the mission from April 18 to April 24.

It continued by saying that one Chinese ship” carried out harmful maneuvers” in 46 meters away from a Philippine ship. It continued,” Aggressive techniques” were used by two other ships, posing a” significant harm to the Spanish vessel and its crew’s safety and security.”

A request for comment was not instantly answered by the Chinese consulate in Manila.

A Chinese equivalent ship, according to the Philippine Coast Guard, fired a” military-grade light” at one of its ships carrying supplies for soldiers in the disputed lake in February, temporarily blinding its personnel on the gate.