Chinese and Philippine ships collided in a confrontation near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea on Monday, the two countries said.

In recent months, there have been repeated confrontations between China and the Philippines on this vital waterway, including over a warship housing a garrison that ran aground on the controversial Second Thomas Reef near Manila years ago.

Beijing continues to maintain its claims to almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international tribunal ruling that its claims have no legal basis.

Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Geng Yu said a Philippine ship “intentionally collided with a Chinese ship” early Monday morning.

“Philippine Coast Guard vessels … illegally entered the waters near the Xianbin Reef of the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” Geng said, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Reef and the Spratly Islands.

“The Chinese Coast Guard has taken control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” Geng added.

Meanwhile, Manila’s National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said two of its coast guard vessels were damaged in collisions with Chinese vessels conducting “illegal and aggressive maneuvers” near the Sabina Reef.

The confrontation “resulted in collisions that caused structural damage to both Philippine Coast Guard vessels,” Manila said.

China claims the Sabina Reef, which lies 140 kilometers west of the Philippine island of Palawan, the nearest major landmass.

Manila and Beijing have stationed coast guard ships around the shoal in recent months because the Philippines fear that China wants to build an artificial island there.

– ‘Dangerous’ –

Footage of the incident, allegedly attributed to the Chinese coast guard and broadcast by state broadcaster CCTV, shows a ship identified by the Beijing side as a Philippine vessel apparently colliding with the left side of a Chinese vessel before moving on.

Another 15-second clip appears to show the Chinese ship coming into contact with the stern of the Philippine ship.

The captions say the Filipino ship made a “sudden change of direction,” causing the crash.

The Chinese coast guard spokesman accused Philippine ships of “unprofessional and dangerous behavior that led to a glancing collision.”

“We strongly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop its violations and provocations,” Geng said.

Manila, however, blamed Beijing. National Security Council Director General Jonathan Malaya said the Philippine BRP Cape Engano suffered a 13-centimeter hole in its right beam after “aggressive maneuvers” by a Chinese coast guard vessel caused a collision.

A second Philippine coast guard vessel, the BRP Bagacay, was “rammed twice” by a Chinese coast guard vessel about 15 minutes later and suffered “minor structural damage,” Malaya said.

The Filipino crew remained unharmed and continued their mission to supply the Philippine-occupied islands of the Spratly Islands, he added.

– Repeated clashes –

Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the incident occurred at 3:24 a.m. local time (19:24 GMT Sunday).

It was further reported that a Philippine Coast Guard ship then entered waters near the Second Thomas Reef at around 6 a.m.

The shoal is located about 200 kilometers from Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.

Repeated clashes in the South China Sea have raised concerns that Manila’s ally the United States could be drawn into a conflict as Beijing steps up efforts to assert its claims in the sea.

According to analysts, Beijing’s aim is to advance eastward from Second Thomas Reef toward neighboring Sabina Reef, thereby entering Manila’s exclusive economic zone and normalizing Chinese control over the area.

The situation is reminiscent of 2012, when Beijing took control of the Scarborough Reef, another strategic area in the South China Sea near the Philippines.

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