Philippine Coast Guard accused of 'ramming' in collision at Sabina Reef in South China Sea

At 3:24 a.m., one of the Philippine vessels, No. 4410, ignored repeated warnings and rammed its Chinese counterpart, vessel 21551, according to the Chinese Coast Guard, which also released two short videos of the incident.

In a separate statement Monday morning, the Chinese coast guard said the Philippine vessel 4410 approached Second Thomas Shoal, which is also the subject of competing claims between the two countries, at around 6 a.m.

The Chinese coast guard took control measures against the Philippine ship in accordance with the law, the statement said.

The Chinese coast guard accused the Philippine side of “provoking unrest on several occasions” and “violating” a preliminary agreement reached last month to deliver supplies to a Philippine-controlled ship that ran aground on the Second Thomas Reef.

Gan said the Chinese coast guard will continue to carry out police measures to “protect the rights and interests in the waters under Chinese jurisdiction” and “resolutely safeguard the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.”

Sabina Shoal – an uninhabited atoll in the disputed Spratly Islands, which Vietnam also claims – has become a new source of conflict between China and the Philippines in recent months.

It serves as a rendezvous point for Philippine ships on supply missions for troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a World War II ship that was intentionally run aground on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's territorial claims.

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History, money and military: Why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing

History, money and military: Why the South China Sea is so important to Beijing

In April, a standoff between coast guards from both sides occurred at Sabina Reef when one of the Philippines' most modern coast guard vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, arrived there.

Manila said the ship was responding to reports that China was conducting land reclamation work. Beijing rejected that accusation and said the Philippines was trying to establish a permanent outpost there, which it denied.

On Thursday, the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative indicated that the Philippines would send a new coast guard ship to replace the BRP Teresa Magbanua and predicted a “forceful response” from China.

Responding to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Friday that China was “closely monitoring” developments and would “take decisive and stern action.”

In a statement posted on social media platform X on Sunday, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said the shoal is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

“Our Philippine Coast Guard vessels have the right to operate in the Escoda Shoal lagoon for as long as necessary without the need for permission from any other country,” he said.