On Sunday, the United States urged Beijing to cease its “risky and destabilizing” maneuvers in the South China Sea following a collision between a Philippine boat and a Chinese Coast Guard ship near a disputed reef.

Both nations exchanged accusations in the aftermath of the incident, marking the most recent clash in the contested maritime region.

The collision occurred as part of a Philippine resupply mission to a small outpost on Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, an area of heightened tension between Manila and Beijing.

This incident unfolded just a day after another confrontation near Scarborough Shoal, Barron’s reported.

On both days Chinese ships “employed water cannons and reckless maneuvers, including forcing a collision, causing damage to Philippine vessels undertaking official supply missions to those locations, and jeopardizing the safety of the Filipino crew,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

Recent months have seen a resurgence of longstanding tensions between Manila and Beijing over the sea, driven by multiple incidents involving both Philippine and Chinese vessels, including two prior collisions.

Written by B.C. Begley

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