U.S. military slams Chinese boats’ confrontation, collision with Filipino vessels

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder on Wednesday said the Chinese vessels in the incident “showed disregard for international law.” The State Department said Tuesday that the Chinese vessels engaged in “dangerous maneuvers” that led to a collision that damaged one of the Philippines’ vessels and injured four of its service members.

Where did this collision take place and why? The Philippine government said the incident took place during a resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. Two China Coast Guard vessels tried to block the Philippine’s Unaizah, and simultaneously turned on water cannons powerful enough to shatter the Unaizah’s windshield. Nevertheless, it was able to complete its resupply mission.

Is the BRP Sierra Madre a boat, or a military outpost? The Philippines deliberately grounded the Sierra Madre on the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to bolster its claim that the strip of land was part of its territory, according to a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command unclassified report from last year. A rotating contingent of Filipino marines have remained stationed on the boat for more than 20 years, according to USINDOPACOM. But the Philippines’ navy still must resupply their marines. Chinese military vessels have instigated several confrontations with those resupply missions and claim that the Second Thomas Shoal is part of their territory, according to USINDOPACOM.

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