DANGEROUS MANOEUVERS BY CHINESE AND PHILIPPINES SHIPS

The Chinese  authorities blamed the Philippines for the incident. In a statement to the State broadcaster CCTV, Chinese spokesperson Liu Dejun Ship “deliberately collided with” the Chinese vessel, calling it “unprofessional and dangerous”. Liu further added, "China exercises indisputable sovereignty" in this zone. Ironically, a video capture clearly shows the Chinese Vessel as the aggressor. The USA has condemned the risky posturing by China.

Sabina Shoal region which the Chinese call Xiabin is situated 140 kilometres west of Philippines Island of Palawan. The nearest Chinese island of Hainan Island is 1200 kilometres from Sabina Shoal. The ships of the two countries have collided twice in August in the same area. Accordingly to analysts, China is testing the waters by trying to encroach more and more of the area deeper into the Philippines to lay its claim over the piles of crushed corals discovered earlier this year.

At a recent defense conference, the repeated confrontations attempted by Beijing prompted Manila to brand it as the "biggest disrupter" to peace in Southeast Asia. USA has expressed strong protest on China’s dangerous manoeuvres and pledged to support Philippines,