Both countries accused each other on Saturday of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships near a flashpoint shoal in the South China Sea, the latest in a spate of similar incidents in recent weeks.
The incident took place off the disputed Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from Hainan island, the nearest major Chinese landmass.
Footage released by the Philippine coast guard of the incident appeared to show the Chinese vessel coming up from behind the ship and ramming it.
Another clip also showed what appeared to be a deliberate collision.
Asked about the footage on Monday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning reiterated Beijing's claim the Philippines had "deliberately rammed" the Chinese vessel.
"The root cause of the current situation, or the current escalation of the situation, is that the Philippines sent coast guard ships to linger in the lagoon of the Xianbin Reef for a long time and attempt to permanently occupy it," Mao said, using the Chinese name for the shoal.
"China's actions on Xianbin Reef are rights protection actions to safeguard China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, which is legal and above-board," she added.
Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital South China Sea despite competing claims from other countries and an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
Saturday's collision was the fifth incident of Chinese maritime harassment in August, Philippine coast guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said.
EU 'condemns dangerous actions' by China against Philippine ship
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Sept 1, 2024 -
The European Union accused China on Sunday of taking "dangerous actions" against the Philippines, as Beijing and Manila blamed each other of deliberately ramming their coast guard ships.
The collision marks the latest in a spate of similar incidents in recent weeks in the South China Sea, where Beijing claims almost all of the economically vital body of water despite competing claims from other countries and an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
"The EU condemns the dangerous action by Chinese Coast Guard vessels against lawful Philippine maritime operations in the area of the Sabina Shoa," said Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell, in a statement.
A Chinese coast guard spokesperson had said Saturday's incident took place off the disputed Sabina Shoal, which has emerged as a new hotspot in the long-running maritime confrontations between the two countries.
The incidents "endanger the safety of life at sea, and violate the right to freedom of navigation to which all nations are entitled under international law," the EU statement said.
"The EU condemns all unlawful, escalatory and coercive actions that undermine these principles of international law and threaten peace and stability in the region."
Since taking office in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Manila has more firmly asserted its claim to sovereignty over disputed reefs despite Beijing showing no intention of backing down on its own claims.
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