China blames Philippines for ship collision in South China Sea. Manila calls the report deceptive

[sl8]

https://apnews.com/article/china-philippines-second-thomas-shoal-collision-navy-8c14b945066967189b01d701b17c10ae

China blames Philippines for ship collision in South China Sea. Manila calls the report deceptive

BY SIMINA MISTREANU AND JIM GOMEZ
Updated 6:41 AM EDT, June 17, 2024

TAIPEI (AP) — A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided near the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Monday, China’s coast guard said, in the latest flare-up of escalating territorial disputes that have sparked alarm.

The coast guard said a Philippine supply ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, part of a territory claimed by several nations.

The Philippines says the shoal falls within its internationally recognized exclusive economic zone and often cites a 2016 international arbitration ruling invalidating China’s expansive South China Sea claims based on historical grounds.

The Chinese coast guard said the Philippine craft “ignored China’s repeated solemn warnings … and dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in normal navigation in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.”

[...]

[Martin68]

1. China has no credibility when it comes to ship collisions in the South "China" Sea.