US demands Beijing stop ‘provocative and unsafe’ acts in South China Sea
- ‘We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct,’ said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller
- A Chinese coastguard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel near the Spratly Islands last Sunday, causing a near-collision
Agence France-Presse was one of several media outlets that witnessed the incident after journalists were invited to join two Philippine coastguard boats on a six-day patrol of the waters, visiting a dozen islands and reefs.
The Philippine vessels approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Ren’ai Jiao, in the Spratly archipelago.
As one boat, the BRP Malapascua, which was carrying Filipino journalists, neared the shoal, a Chinese coastguard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path.
‘Leave immediately’: China ship warns Philippine jet flying over Spratlys
Agence France-Presse journalists watched the incident from the other Philippine coastguard boat, which was less than a kilometre (0.6 miles) away.
The Malapascua’s commanding officer said the Chinese ship came within 45 metres of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other.
But Manila hit back, saying that “routine patrols in our own waters can be neither premeditated or provocative” and insisting they will continue to conduct the patrols.
This shift has alarmed China, which has accused Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila.