China and the Philippines have traded blame over two collisions in the South China Sea involving their vessels, the latest in a series of maritime confrontations in the disputed waterway.
China’s coastguard says there had been a slight collision between one of its ships and a Philippine vessel carrying supplies to a World War II-era transport ship that was being used as an outpost on the shoal.
The coastguard says the collision occurred while it was lawfully blocking the boat from transporting illegal construction materials to the warship.
Manila says it condemned in the strongest degree the dangerous blocking manoeuvres of the Chinese vessel.