China Coast Guard harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers Against a Civilian Ship

The Philippines said China had “harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers”. It comes a day after the Philippines accused China of using water cannons to obstruct three of its vessels.

The South China Sea is at the center of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries.

The Philippines said on Sunday that China had targeted Philippine civilian supply vessels in the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, a flashpoint between the two countries. One of two boats carrying provisions was “rammed” by a Chinese coast guard ship, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.

It also accused China of causing “severe damage” to the engine of one boat after using water cannon. But the China Coast Guard accused the Philippine boat of “deliberately colliding” with the Chinese vessel after “disregarding our multiple stern warnings”.

Separately, a convoy of civilian boats planning to deliver Christmas presents and provisions to Filipino fishermen and troops in the South China Sea aborted the trip due to “constant shadowing” by Chinese vessels, the organizer said.

It comes after the Philippines accused China of using war cannons to obstruct three of its vessels on Saturday, in what it called “illegal and aggressive” actions. Beijing said it had used what it called “control measures” on ships that had intruded into its waters.

Earlier this week, the Philippines accused China of “swarming” a reef off its coast after more than 135 military boats were spotted in the South China Sea.