BEIJING/MANILA – China on Monday vowed to maintain “forceful measures” in the South China Sea after a collision between the Philippine and Chinese vessels near a disputed reef.

The Philippine vessels’ actions had “seriously violated China’s sovereignty”, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in Beijing.

She added that China “will continue to take resolute and forceful measures in accordance with the law to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests”.

The statement comes as the Philippines and China accused each other of ramming vessels and performing dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea.

It is the latest flareup after the two nations had agreed to try to ease tensions and manage disagreements at sea.

Earlier, China Coast Guard spokesperson Geng Yu said a Philippine vessel had “deliberately collided” with a Chinese ship early on Monday.

“Philippine Coast Guard vessels … illegally entered the waters near the Xianbin Reef in the Nansha Islands without permission from the Chinese government,” Geng said, using the Chinese names for the Sabina Shoal and the Spratly Islands.

“The China Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” Geng added.

THE DISPUTE

Sabina Shoal is in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including both shoals. It has rejected a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that the Chinese claims had no basis under international law.

Meanwhile, the Western nations have been sharply criticizing China for aggressive measures designed to in block the Philippine efforts to resupply troops aboard a navy ship it intentionally grounded 25 years ago.

ACCUSED OF IMPOSING FACTS

The Philippines disputed Beijing’s account and accused it of “imposing its version of facts.”

It said two of its coast guard vessels “encountered unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” from Chinese vessels near Sabina Shoal while on their way to supply Filipino personnel stationed in two occupied islands.

“These dangerous maneuvers resulted in collisions, causing structural damage to both PCG (Philippine Coast Guard) vessels,” said Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the national security council and Manila’s South China Sea task force.

ARGUMENTS AND COUNTERARGUMENTS

Manila said coast guard vessels Cape Engano and Bagacay were on their way to resupply personnel stationed in Flat Island which Manila calls Patag, and Lawak Island which China calls Nanshan, when the confrontation happened near Sabina Shoal.

A collision occurred between Cape Engano and a China Coast Guard ship at around 3:24am on Monday (1924 GMT on Sunday), Manila said.

Around 16 minutes later, a Chinese coast guard ship rammed Manila’s guard vessel Bagacay twice, damaging its auxiliary room, where a three-foot wide hole was inflicted, according to Philippine officials and images shared by the PCG.

The China Coast Guard posted a short video of the incident which showed what it said was a Philippine coast guard ship “deliberately ramming” with what it said was one of their vessels.

China’s maritime security said the same Philippine vessel involved in the collision then entered waters near Second Thomas Shoal after being prevented from entering Sabina Shoal waters.

WASHINGTON STANDS WITH MANILA

The United States condemned China’s actions. Its ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson said in post shared on X that the US “stands with the Philippines in condemning the China Coast Guard’s dangerous maneuvers” which endangered lives and caused damage to coast guard vessels.