China accuses Philippine ships of violating sovereignty after Spratly Islands collision

China has accused two Philippine ships of violating its sovereignty last week after a collision with a Chinese vessel in disputed waters.

Earlier the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) had accused the Chinese ship, which it said was part of a “maritime militia”, of “conducting dangerous manoeuvres and trying to block the path” of one of its patrol boats near the disputed Thitu island.

In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said two “official vessels” from the Philippines had been involved in the incident in the South China Sea and said the Chinese ship involved was a fishing boat whose crew had been put in danger.

“As far as I know, the truth is that Philippine official vessels sailed dangerously in waters under China’s jurisdiction and collided with a Chinese fishing boat conducting regular operations there,” Mao said.

“The behaviour violates China’s sovereignty and gravely threatens the safety of Chinese fishing boats and crews.

“China urges the Philippine side to earnestly respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea and stop taking any action that may complicate the situation.”

But the Philippine fisheries bureau said the vessel involved had been a Chinese maritime militia ship with the bow number 00108. It added: “These dangerous manoeuvres caused the sideswiping and collision with the BFAR vessel [the BRP Datu Cabaylo], which sustained minor dents in its starboard bow.”