The Philippines accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming one of its government vessels in the disputed South China Sea on Sunday, an allegation that Beijing denied, saying Manila was at fault.
Confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels have become frequent in the contested waterway, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety despite a 2016 international ruling declaring its claims legally invalid.
According to a statement from the Philippines, a Chinese coast guard ship "fired its water cannon" at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, at around 9:15 a.m. on Sunday.
"Just three minutes later... the same (Chinese) vessel deliberately rammed the stern of the Philippine boat, causing minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew," the statement added.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said the incident took place near Thitu Island, part of the Spratly Islands, where China has long attempted to assert sovereignty.
China’s coast guard countered that the confrontation occurred near Sandy Cay after a Philippine vessel ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side and dangerously approached the Chinese ship.
"Full responsibility lies with the Philippine side," Chinese Coast Guard spokesman Liu Dejun said in an online statement.
Photos and videos released by the PCG showed a Chinese vessel using its water cannon while shadowing the Philippine ship.
"Despite these bullying tactics and aggressive actions... we will not be intimidated or driven away," the Philippine Coast Guard said.
The incident marks the latest in a series of maritime confrontations between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest trade routes.
Last month, a water cannon attack by a Chinese coast guard ship injured a crew member aboard another Philippine fisheries vessel, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang, near Scarborough Shoal.
In August, a Chinese navy vessel collided with a Chinese coast guard ship while pursuing a Philippine patrol boat in the same area.
China seized control of the fish-rich Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012 after a prolonged standoff.
The Philippines has since opposed Beijing’s plans to create a "nature reserve" there, describing it as a pretext for the site’s occupation.
