Chinese Coast Guard warns after Philippine vessel rams Chinese ship

The China Coast Guard said on Monday that the Philippine Coast Guard vessels illegally intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef and Ren'ai Reef in the South China Sea early Monday morning without China's government permission, with one vessel "deliberately ramming" a Chinese law enforcement ship "in a dangerous manner".

The coast guard took control measures in accordance with the law at both reefs and accused the Philippines of violating the temporary arrangement between China and the Philippines on the supply of living materials to the Philippine warship, which has stayed illegally grounded at Ren'ai Reef for 25 years, seriously infringing on China's sovereignty and severely undermining regional peace and stability.

On Monday morning, the China Coast Guard issued four consecutive statements, detailing the provocative actions of the two Philippine Coast Guard vessels and releasing video footage of the Philippine vessel deliberately ramming Chinese ship twice at Xianbin Reef.

Gan Yu, a spokesman for the coast guard, said in a statement that on Monday the two Philippine Coast Guard vessels illegally intruded into the adjacent waters of Xianbin Reef in China's Nansha Islands without China's permission, prompting the coast guard to take control measures in accordance with the law.

At around 3:24 am, one of the Philippine vessels ignored multiple stern warnings from the Chinese side and deliberately rammed a Chinese law enforcement vessel in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, causing a collision, he said, noting that the responsibility lies entirely with the Philippine side.

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringing provocations. Otherwise, it will bear all the consequences arising from such actions," Gan said.

China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands, including Xianbin Reef, and their adjacent waters, he said.

"The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in the waters under China's jurisdiction in accordance with the law, resolutely safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights," said the spokesman.

However, at around 6 am on Monday, the Philippine vessel that deliberately rammed the Chinese ship in Xianbin Reef ignored repeated warnings and navigation controls from the Chinese side, and illegally intruded into the waters near Ren'ai Reef following its provocation in Xianbin Reef, according to the coast guard.

Gan said in a separate statement that the coast guard also took control measures against the offending Philippine vessel in accordance with the law and regulations.

"The Philippine side's repeated provocations have violated the temporary arrangement between China and the Philippines on the supply of living materials to the illegally grounded Philippine vessel at Ren'ai Reef, seriously infringing on China's sovereignty and severely undermining regional peace and stability," he said.

The spokesman warned again of all the consequences arising from such infringing provocations of the Philippine side.