New ramming ups anger in sea row

The Philippines and China clashed in disputed waters of the South China Sea yesterday over what Manila said was a mission to resupply fishermen, the latest in a series of sea and air confrontations in the strategic waterway.

The incident overshadows efforts by both sides to rebuild trust and better manage disputes after months of confrontations, including a clash in June in which a Filipino lost a finger.

China's coast guard said it had taken "control measures" against a vessel that had "illegally" entered the waters and repeatedly approached Chinese ships in a dangerous manner.

In the incident near Sabina Shoal, the Philippine South China Sea task force said Chinese vessels rammed and used water cannons against a Bureau of Fisheries ship transporting food, fuel and medical supplies for fishermen. It said the ship, operating from Half-Moon Shoal, encountered Chinese vessels that deployed "perilous maneuvers," causing its engine to fail and forcing it to end the resupply.

For its part, the Chinese coast guard said the Philippine ship "ignored repeated serious warnings and deliberately approached and rammed" China's law enforcement boat, resulting in a collision.

The Philippines and China agreed to "restore trust" and "rebuild confidence" to manage maritime disputes in a high-level meeting last month. That was followed by a provisional arrangement about Manila's resupply missions to a beached Filipino naval ship in the South China Sea.

On Saturday Manila accused Beijing of "unjustifiably" deploying flares from Subi Reef on Thursday while a Manila aircraft was on patrol.

REUTERS