Philippines Accuses China Of Damage To Its Ship At Scarborough Shoal

Illustration of the Chinese coast guard ship. (Wikimedia Commons/Coast Guard/Cutter Morgenthau)

JAKARTA - The Philippines on Tuesday accused Chinese coast guard of harassment and damaging one of their ships in the South China Sea disputed region, rejecting Beijing's claim they had expelled two ships from the contested shallow waters.

The Philippine coast guard said the two ships remained at the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, with one of the ships being damaged by the use of water cannons by two Chinese coast guard vessels.

"This damage is evidence of strong water pressure used by Chinese coast guards in disrupting Philippine ships," Philippine coast guard spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a statement.

"They are not afraid and will continue to carry out their legitimate operations to support Filipino fishermen and ensure their safety," he said.

Tarriela said its ship, BRP Bagacay, suffered damage to its fence and canopy, saying China had installed a floating barrier at the entrance to the shallow water, which effectively limited access to the region.

Meanwhile, China's coast guard said the ships had been expelled but gave no details of the incident.

"Childs urge the Philippines to immediately stop its provocative violations and not oppose China's firm determination to safeguard its sovereignty," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular press conference.

"The Chinese coast guard took the necessary action in accordance with the law to expel them firmly," he said.

No country has sovereignty over the strategically located Scarborough Shoal, which is the main fishing ground used by several countries and close to the main shipping route. The nest is in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

China has occupied the atoll for more than a decade and the waters around its lagoon, which has long been a haven for ships during the storm, have been the sites of various confrontations in recent years.

The Bamboo Curtain country claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which is an annual ship trade channel worth more than US$3 trillion, including areas claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

A Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's expansionary claim had no legal basis, a decision rejected by the Bamboo Curtain Country.

Manila and Beijing previously said they would seek better communication and management regarding the conflict in the South China Sea. But tensions have risen recently, as the Philippines establish stronger diplomatic and military ties with its ally, the United States.