China lodged a complaint on Monday with the Philippines over a collision involving their vessels in the South China Sea the previous day, expressing its "strong dissatisfaction" over the incident.
The complaint, conveyed by the Chinese Embassy in Manila to the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department, follows exchanges in which each side blamed the other for the collision.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the Philippines in a statement released Sunday evening to stop "stirring up trouble" and "making dangerous moves" by "making provocations at sea."
Manila said a Philippine supply ship heading toward a military base in the Second Thomas Shoal collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel seeking to block its path. A Chinese maritime militia boat also hit a patrol ship accompanying the supply vessel.
Meanwhile, the China Maritime Safety Administration said that the supply ship had deliberately crossed into the path of the Chinese coast guard vessel, resulting in contact with its bow. Beijing also claims the Manila-controlled shoal.
On Sunday, the Philippines called China's actions "dangerous, irresponsible, and illegal," saying the lives of the vessel's crew members had been endangered, although there were no reports of injuries from the incident.
Teresita Daza, spokeswoman of the Philippine foreign department, said Monday that Manila summoned a senior Chinese embassy official and lodged a strong protest.
The United States has shown its support for the Philippines over the incident, with the State Department saying in a statement Sunday that Washington "stands with" Manila in the face of China's "dangerous and unlawful actions."
"Our commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Alliance is ironclad," said Ely Ratner, assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
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Philippines, China trade blame over ship collision in South China Sea
