Chinese, Philippine ships collide near hotspot South China Sea reef

Philippine ships sustained serious damage Monday in pre-dawn collisions with Chinese vessels near a disputed reef, Manila's coast guard said, as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims in the South China Sea.

China and the Philippines have had repeated confrontations in the waters in recent months, including around a warship grounded years ago by Manila on the contested Second Thomas Shoal that hosts a garrison.

Beijing has continued to press its claims to almost the entire South China Sea despite an international tribunal ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

On Monday both countries said that their coast guard ships had collided near the disputed Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometres (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan and about 1,200 kilometres from Hainan island, the closest Chinese landmass.

Manila said it was the first hostile action by Beijing against it near Sabina, where both sides have stationed coast guard vessels in recent months and where the Philippines fears China is about to build an artificial island.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for Manila's coast guard, said the Chinese vessel had smashed a hole into the hull of the Philippine ship BRP Bagacay during their first collision.

A second collision then dented the ship and damaged its railings, he added.

In a separate collision, a second Filipino vessel, the BRP Engano, suffered a 1.1-metre (3.6-foot) hole in its right side as well as damage to its engine exhaust, Tarriela said.

Manila also released images showing what Tarriela said was the heavy damage sustained by the ships.

China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu accused the Philippine vessels of acting "in an unprofessional and dangerous manner, resulting in a glancing collision".

"The China Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessels in accordance with the law," he insisted.

Chinese footage of the incident showed one ship, identified as a Philippine vessel by the Beijing side, apparently running into the left side of a Chinese ship before moving on.

Another 15-second clip appears to show the Chinese vessel making contact with the rear of a Philippine ship.

- 'Unlawful and aggressive' -

Beijing accused Manila's ships of "illegally" entering its waters without permission and having "deliberately collided" with the Chinese ship.

"We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringement and provocations," spokesperson Gan said.

Philippine National Security Council assistant director-general Jonathan Malaya disputed the Chinese account, telling reporters "it was not (BRP Bagacay) who rammed it, it's the other way around".

"The physical evidence proves this," he said.

The BRP Bagacay was "rammed twice" by a Chinese coast guard vessel and suffered "minor structural damage", Malaya said.

The Filipino crew were unhurt and proceeded with their mission to resupply Philippine-garrisoned islands in the Spratly group, he added.

Manila's National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea accused the Chinese vessels of conducting "unlawful and aggressive manoeuvres" near the Sabina Shoal.

- Repeated clashes -

Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported that the incident took place at 3:24 am local time (1924 GMT Sunday).

It also said a Philippine coast guard ship had then entered waters near the Second Thomas Shoal around 6 am.

That shoal lies about 200 kilometres from Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometres from Hainan.

It was the site of a violent clash in June that led to a Filipino sailor losing a thumb.

And earlier this month, Manila said two Chinese air force warplanes had buzzed and dropped flares near a Philippine maritime patrol plane above the China-held Scarborough Shoal further north.

The repeated clashes in the South China Sea have sparked concern that Manila's ally the United States could be drawn into a conflict.

Analysts have said Beijing's aim is to push eastwards from the Second Thomas Shoal towards the neighbouring Sabina Shoal, encroaching on Manila's exclusive economic zone and normalising Chinese control of the area.

The situation has echoes of 2012, when Beijing took control of Scarborough Shoal, another strategic feature in the South China Sea closest to the Philippines.