US Condemns China About Collision With Philippine Ship In South China Sea

China Coast Guard/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The United States has criticized China after allies of Washington, the Philippines and China have accused each other of a maritime confrontation near disputed islands in the South China Sea.

"The United States has condemned China's crash and spraying water cannons on October 12 on Philippine Fisheries and Water Resources Bureau vessels near Thitu Island in the South China Sea," the US State Department said in a statement.

"We support our Philippine allies as they face China's dangerous actions that undermine regional stability," the US statement continued.

Previously, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained about the collision between the Chinese coast guard ship and the Philippines in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

"Recently, the Philippines has taken organized and coordinated steps to send large numbers of ships to provocation and create problems in waters related to Nansha Qundao, China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing, Monday, October 13.

The Philippine Coast Guard said the Chinese ship "deliberately crashed" a Philippine government-owned ship on Sunday (12/10) near Thitu Island, part of the disputed island group Spratly in the South China Sea.

The Philippines said China's coast guard ship "fired its water cannon" at a ship belonging to the Philippine Fisheries Bureau BRP Datu Pagbuaya at 09.15 local time.

Three minutes later, according to the Philippine coast guard, the Chinese-owned ship accidentally crashed into the stern of the Philippine ship "corresponding to minor damage to the hull but no crew members were injured".

"Despite these intimidation and aggressive actions ... we will not be intimidated or expelled," the Philippine Coast Guard said in a statement.

"The Philippines' official ships sailed dangerously more than once and some of them entered the waters off the coast of Zhubi Jiao, which resulted in a collision between the ships of both sides," said Lin Jian.

The actions of the Philippines, said Lin Jian, seriously violate China's sovereignty, rights and interests, threaten the safety and security of Chinese ships and personnel, as well as undermine peace and stability at sea.

"They are provocateurs responsible for the situation at sea. China's steps to protect territorial sovereignty and its own maritime rights and interests are necessary, legitimate, by law, and not despicable," added Lin Jian.

Lin Jian accused the collision of what occurred indicating intentional violations and provocations by the Philippines.

"This attitude is the root cause of tension. China urges the Philippines to immediately stop its violations, provocations and slander, and refrain from challenging China's strong determination to protect our maritime sovereignty and rights and interests," explained Lin Jian.