The Philippines has issued a lawsuit warning to Beijing over the latest incident in the China Sea.
Two Coast Guard vessels were allegedly damaged yesterday in separate collisions with Chinese vessels.
According to the Manila Times, National Maritime Council spokesman Alexander Lopez said the Philippines is considering filing a lawsuit and accused Beijing of violating international law.
“We are looking at this issue especially from the Coast Guard's point of view, because they know more,” Lopez said.
He called on China to “refrain from aggressive actions and abide by international law.”
The Philippines reported yesterday that two Coast Guard vessels were damaged in separate collisions with Chinese vessels that were engaged in “illegal and aggressive maneuvers” near a disputed South China Sea reef.
Last week, Manila lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over what it called “dangerous maneuvers” in the disputed South China Sea.
Manila noted that Chinese military aircraft had dropped flares in the path of Philippine Air Force planes flying over Scarborough Shoal.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian later urged the Philippines to immediately stop “violative activities and provocations” in Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal).
China claims large parts of the South China Sea, including the Sabina Shoal, 140 kilometers west of the Philippine island of Palawan.
