A Philippine naval vessel encountered “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” by two Chinese Interior Ministry frigates and a Chinese coast guard vessel during a routine patrol in the South China Sea. The incident occurred near the disputed Scarborough Reef, reported Armed Forces of the Philippines.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on May 5 more than 11 nautical miles southeast of Scarborough. One of the Chinese ships was following the Philippine ship dangerously close, while the other crossed its course, creating a risk of collision. In addition, a Chinese patrol vessel tried to block the traffic route.
“These reckless actions not only posed a direct threat to the safety of shipping, but also violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea,” – says the message.
The Philippine military expressed concern over the behavior of Chinese naval forces and warned that such actions could lead to “misunderstandings that could escalate tensions and affect regional stability.”
For years, China has disputed the right to a number of islands in the South China Sea, where significant deposits of hydrocarbons have been discovered. The disputes concern the Xisha (Paracel Islands), Nansha (Spratly) and Huangyan (Scarborough Reef) archipelagos. These territorial claims also involve Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines.
