UPDATE - Beijing claims Philippines ship 'deliberately' hit Chinese vessel in disputed South China Sea

CHANGES DAY OF NEWS CONFERENCE, ADDS MANILA'S REMARKS ON INCIDENT; REVISES HEADLINE, DECK

By Saadet Gokce and Islamuddin Sajid

ISTANBUL / ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - China on Tuesday claimed that a Philippine vessel hit one of its ships 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 said the China Coast Guard took measures in line with the law, including issuing warnings, controlling navigation routes, and deploying water cannons.

However, one Philippine vessel ignored multiple warnings and deliberately rammed into the China Coast Guard ship in an "unprofessional and dangerous manner," said a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

Also on Tuesday, ministry spokesman Lin Jian told 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 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."

- Philippines: Supply ship 'targeted' by China Coast Guard water cannon

In a competing account of the incident, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesman Jay Tarriela on Tuesday evening said that around 14 nautical miles east of the shoal, the BRP Datu Gumbay Piang supply ship of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) was targeted by a water cannon fired by a China Coast Guard ship, according to Philstar daily.

Tarriela said that during the incident, shattered glass on the bridge injured a crew member.

He said "despite the hostile actions,” the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources remain committed “to upholding our maritime jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea and protecting the safety and security of the Filipino fishermen," Tarriela said.

China claims sovereignty over Huangyan Dao, a disputed territory with the Philippines also known as the Scarborough Shoal and Bajo de Masinloc. However, the Philippine government 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 Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesman for the Philippine Navy in the West Philippine Sea, reiterated the country’s stance on protecting its territory, saying that Manila "will not give up one square inch (of Philippine territory)," rebuffing China's announcement of its intentions to create a national nature reserve on 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, stressing that Manila is not acting as the proxy for any foreign power.