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A Chinese vessel and a Philippine supply ship collided in the waters adjacent to Ayungin Shoal on Monday, China’s coast guard said.

The coast guard said a Philippine supply ship entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands that’s part of territory claimed by several nations.

The Chinese coast guard said in a statement on the social media platform WeChat the Philippine supply ship “ignored China’s repeated solemn warnings … and dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in normal navigation in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.”

“The Philippines is entirely responsible for this,” it added. The statement made no mention of injuries or damage to either vessel due to the slight collision.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it will not dignify China’s latest allegation that a Filipino ship illegally entered its waters and collided with one of its coast guard vessels.

“The AFP will not discuss operational details on the legal humanitarian rotation and resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a message to reporters.

Trinidad also stressed that the CCG’s continued aggressive actions escalate tensions in the region.

Both countries have been embroiled in a territorial dispute as China has been claiming ownership over the majority of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, through its so-called nine-dash line which it later amended to 10-dash line to incorporate Taiwan.

However, a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from an arbitral case filed by the Philippines in 2013 invalidated China’s assertions. | via AFP

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