By Saadet Gokce and Islamuddin Sajid
ISTANBUL / ISLAMABAD (AA) - China on Tuesday claimed that a Philippine vessel hit its ship in the disputed South China Sea, according to state-run media.
Gan Yu, spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said that the Philippine vessel "deliberately" rammed into the China Coast Guard ship in waters near the disputed territory of Huangyan, Xinhua News reported.
Gan added that over 10 official Philippine vessels had "illegally" entered China's territorial waters near Huangyan Dao. He explained that the China Coast Guard took regulatory measures in accordance with the law, including issuing warnings, controlling navigation routes, and deploying water cannons.
However, one Philippine vessel ignored the multiple warnings and deliberately rammed into a China Coast Guard ship in an "unprofessional and dangerous manner," according to the Foreign Ministry statement.
Earlier on Friday, ministry spokesman Lin Jian also said during a news conference that Manila had sent several vessels to "intrude into" the waters of Huangyan Dao, which "severely violated China's sovereignty and rights and interests (and) severely disrupted peace and stability" in the region.
"Facts have proven once again that the Philippines' deliberate infringement and provocations at sea are the root cause of the tensions," Lin said, adding that control measures were taken by the Chinese side.
Lin urged Manila to "stop its infringement and provocation and not challenge China's firm resolve in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests."
As of Tuesday, the Philippine government had not issued an official response to China’s allegations.
China claims sovereignty over Huangyan Dao, a disputed territory with the Philippines that is also known by the names of Scarborough Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc. However, the Philippine government had recently deployed the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Suluan to the area to support its fishing vessels.
The shoal has long been a flashpoint in ongoing maritime disputes between Beijing and Manila.
Separately, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea, reiterated the country’s stance on protecting its territory by stating that Manila "will not give up one square inch (of Philippine territory)" regarding China's announcement of intentions to create a national nature reserve on the Huangyan Dao, according to the state-run Philippine News Agency.
"Rest assured that we have the appropriate actions ready to ensure that we could institute the command guidance of the Commander-in-Chief. The integrity of the national territory is paramount," Trinidad said, while stressing that Manila is not acting as the proxy for any foreign power.