The incident comes despite a deal between the two countries in July to de-escalate tensions.
BEIJING – The two collisions between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels near a disputed atoll on Aug 19 appear to signal a new flashpoint amid simmering tensions between the two countries in the South China Sea.
The incidents come despite a deal in July to de-escalate tensions. Beijing and Manila had reached a provisional agreement over Philippine resupply missions to troops at the nearby Second Thomas Shoal – an issue which had resulted in a serious clash in June that saw a Filipino soldier losing his thumb.
Dr Ding Duo, deputy director at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in China, said the Sabina Shoal collisions show that the maritime differences between the two sides are still prominent. Xianbin Reef is China’s term for Sabina Shoal, which is Escoda Shoal to the Philippines. China calls the Second Thomas Shoal Ren’ai Reef, which is Ayungin Shoal to the Philippines.
The collisions in the early hours of Aug 19 resulted in gaping holes in two Philippine coast guard ships, although no injuries were reported. PHOTOS: AFP, EPA-EFEIn April, the Philippine coast guard deployed its largest ship, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, there to monitor Chinese activity. In response, the Chinese coast guard deployed a much larger ship, dubbed The Monster, to the shoal in July.
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