Philippine vessel collides with CCG ship near Xianbin Jiao

The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Friday said a Philippine vessel collided with a CCG ship near Xianbin Jiao in China's Nansha Qundao, after the Philippine vessel ignored repeated warnings, suddenly changed course and accelerated toward the Chinese vessel.

CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue said that on Friday, a Chinese coast guard vessel, named the Sanzhou'ao, was conducting lawful rights protection and law enforcement operations in accordance with the law in waters near Xianbin Jiao.

Jiang said Philippine vessel 3015 ignored repeated stern warnings from the Chinese side, deliberately altered its course and suddenly accelerated diagonally across the bow of the Chinese coast guard vessel, resulting in a collision.

The Philippine vessel's actions seriously violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations and posed a threat to the safety of Chinese coast guard vessels and personnel, Jiang said.

He added that the Chinese coast guard vessel operated in a professional and standardized manner and that its actions were legitimate and lawful, saying that the Philippine side bore full responsibility for the incident.

Jiang urged the Philippines to immediately stop its provocative and infringing actions, warning that all consequences arising from such actions shall be borne by the Philippine side.

"The China Coast Guard will continue to carry out rights protection and law enforcement activities in waters under China's jurisdiction and safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," Jiang said.