A statement from Southern Theatre Command spokesperson Tian Junli said the Philippine vessel had “seriously violated” China’s sovereignty.
“The Southern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organised naval and air forces to track and monitor, issue warnings, and block and manage [the Philippine vessel] in accordance with the law,” Tian said.
“The Philippines’ actions seriously violated China’s sovereignty, seriously violated international law and basic norms of international relations, and could easily lead to misunderstanding and misjudgment.”
Tian said that China urged the Philippines to “immediately stop infringement and provocation and effectively avoid further escalation of the situation”.
“Troops in the theatre remain on high alert at all times and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, [as well as] security, peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Tian said.
Manila’s national security adviser Eduardo Año said the Philippine ship – a PS39 Pohang-class corvette – had been on a “routine patrol” in the general vicinity of the island under international law “without any untoward incident”.
“It did not illegally enter any space under Chinese sovereignty … Chinese vessels, as usual, conducted a shadowing movement of PS39,” he said.
“China is again overhyping this incident and creating unnecessary tensions between our two nations.
02:03
Beijing and Manila trade blame over ‘provocative’ moves with ship collisions near disputed shoal
Beijing and Manila trade blame over ‘provocative’ moves with ship collisions near disputed shoal
“Nonetheless, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine coastguard will not be deterred by the aggressive and illegal activities of People’s Liberation Army Navy/China coastguard/militia in the West Philippine Sea,” Año said.
The Chinese coastguard took similar action against a Philippine gunboat near Scarborough Shoal on October 10.
The encounters are part of an increasing atmosphere of confrontation between Beijing and Manila in the contentious waters, which has coincided with intensified China-US rivalries in the Indo-Pacific, despite recent high-level engagement between the two powers.
03:09
Philippine coastguard removes Chinese barrier at disputed Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea
Philippine coastguard removes Chinese barrier at disputed Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea
After the collisions at Second Thomas Shoal, US President Joe Biden said his country would defend the Philippines if it were attacked by the PLA in the South China Sea.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also raised the matter with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was in Washington over the weekend. Blinken said China’s actions were “dangerous and unlawful” and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its Philippine allies.
Two days after the Second Thomas Shoal incident, a US B-52 strategic bomber and a Chinese J-11 fighter jet had a close encounter over the South China Sea. The US said the PLA plane came within 3 metres (10 feet) of the bomber and almost caused a collision.
Beijing insisted that the action was done professionally to protect China’s sovereignty.
