Philippines Accuses China of Deliberate Collision Near Thitu Island in South China Sea

Tensions flared once again in the South China Sea after the Philippines accused a Chinese coast guard vessel of deliberately ramming one of its government boats near Thitu Island on Sunday.
According to Manila’s coast guard, the Chinese ship first used a water cannon on the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, a fisheries bureau vessel, before intentionally colliding with its stern just minutes later. The impact caused minor damage but no injuries among the Filipino crew.
The Philippines condemned the incident as another act of intimidation, reaffirming that it will not be deterred from carrying out its duties in its own maritime zones. The clash occurred in the Spratly Islands, a region where Beijing continues to assert sweeping territorial claims despite international rulings rejecting them.
In response, China accused the Philippine vessel of ignoring warnings and approaching dangerously close to its ship. The confrontation marks yet another escalation in the ongoing maritime dispute between the two nations.