The Philippines and China accused each other on 12 October of responsibility for a maritime confrontation near disputed islands in the South China Sea, further escalating tensions in the resource-rich waterway.
The Philippine Maritime Council, an inter-agency government body, blamed Chinese maritime forces for deploying water cannon and ramming a Filipino vessel near the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island, locally known as Pag-asa, "strongly condemning" the incident and vowing to pursue "appropriate diplomatic action".
According to Manila's coast guard, three vessels were anchored near the island early on Sunday as part of a government program to protect local fishermen when Chinese ships reportedly approached and used water cannon to intimidate them.
An hour later, a Chinese coast guard ship allegedly fired its water cannon directly at a Philippine vessel before ramming its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries, the coast guard said.
China's coast guard said two Philippine government vessels "illegally entered" waters near Sandy Cay, a coral reef in the northern Thitu Reefs within the Spratly Islands, leading to a collision.
Beijing said a Philippine vessel "dangerously approached" a Chinese coast guard ship, for which it held Manila responsible.
Manila's authorities vowed to continue operations in the area, emphasizing the need to protect Filipino fishermen's livelihood.
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned what she described as China's "dangerous ramming" of a Filipino vessel, calling the incident "aggressive actions" in the South China Sea, in a post on social media platform X.
The disputed area, part of the Spratly Islands, has been the site of repeated confrontations between the two nations over the years.
An explosion believed to be intentional struck the Harvard University Medical School’s Goldenson Building in Boston early Saturday, with two people ...
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty in the global trade system, Asia-Pacific leaders concluded the annual APEC summit on Saturda...
A man and a woman were killed and several others injured in a shooting on the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, in what police officials described as...
As the U.S. federal government shutdown enters another critical stage, millions of low-income Americans face the possibility of losing their Supplemen...
Egypt has inaugurated the Grand Egyptian Museum near the Great Pyramid of Giza, unveiling the world’s largest archaeological museum and a modern cul...
Beijing has called on the Philippines to give up "unrealistic illusions" in the South China Sea, after Manila reaffirmed that Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan Island Group are integral parts of the Philippine archipelago.
A powerful magnitude 7.5 offshore earthquake hit the southern Philippines on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings and evacuations of people in coastal areas of Mindanao.
The Philippines says it has completed its search and rescue operations following on powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake, killing 73 and injuring more than 200.
The death toll from a magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off the central Philippines late on Tuesday has risen to 72, the civil defence agency said on Thursday (2 October).
Reports from CNN say the Pentagon has approved the provision of long range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine after assessing its impact on U.S. stockpiles, while leaving the ultimate decision to President Trump.
Tanzanian police fired tear gas and live rounds on Thursday to disperse protesters in Dar es Salaam and other cities, a day after a disputed election marked by violence and claims of political repression, witnesses said.
The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of all non-emergency personnel and their family members from Mali, citing escalating security risks as al Qaeda-linked insurgents tighten a fuel blockade on the country.
Torrential rain battered New York on Thursday, leaving two people dead, Mayor Eric Adams confirmed, as severe storms disrupted flights and prompted flood warnings across parts of the city.
The United Nations has warned of a catastrophic humanitarian situation in Sudan after reports emerged of mass killings, sexual violence, and forced displacements following the capture of al-Fashir by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The United Nations Security Council on Saturday adopted Resolution 2797 (2025), renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) for one year until October 31, 2026.
An explosion believed to be intentional struck the Harvard University Medical School’s Goldenson Building in Boston early Saturday, with two people reportedly seen fleeing the scene and no injuries confirmed.
Amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing uncertainty in the global trade system, Asia-Pacific leaders concluded the annual APEC summit on Saturday with a joint declaration emphasizing resilience and shared benefits in trade.
A man and a woman were killed and several others injured in a shooting on the Greek island of Crete on Saturday, in what police officials described as a family vendetta, reviving memories of the island’s long and complex history of inter-family violence.
As the U.S. federal government shutdown enters another critical stage, millions of low-income Americans face the possibility of losing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment