New Delhi: China was labelled an "aggressor" by the Philippines on Monday, accusing it of "increasing tensions" in the South China Sea and causing a collision that damaged one of Manila's boats on a resupply trip, reported news agency Reuters.
No one was harmed when a Chinese coast guard ship and one of Manila's smaller wooden resupply boats made contact on Sunday, but the incident has drawn international condemnation and expressions of concern from the United States, according to Reuters.
In a joint news conference, Philippine foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said, "All incidents like this will bolster the case that it's not the Philippines that's the aggressor, but the other party, which is China."
The “dangerous, illegal, and reckless maneuvers” by Chinese ships caused damage to Philippine vessels “within our exclusive economic zone and is being taken seriously at the highest level of government,” according to a statement issued by Marcos’s office.
China's coast guard said on Sunday there had been a "slight collision" between one of its ships and the Philippine boat while the coast guard was "lawfully" blocking the boat from transporting "illegal construction materials", reported Reuters.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr held a security meeting on Monday to discuss "the latest violation by China" and ordered his country's coast guard to investigate the incident, which his office said "is being taken seriously at the highest level of government".
Tensions between China and the Philippines have grown under Marcos, who has complained about Beijing's aggressive behaviour and sought closer ties with traditional ally, the United States.
Maritime confrontations between Manila and Beijing have become a regular feature in the South China Sea, as both countries assert their territorial claims in the highly strategic waters.
One of the images shared by the Philippine coast guard showed three of the four boats carrying out the resupply operation on Sunday surrounded by seven bigger Chinese coast guard vessels.
Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson at the Philippines' National Security Council, said China's actions caused Sunday's collision, even as Beijing's embassy in Manila said the Philippine vessels were "trespassing" at the shoal.
"We are relieved and thankful that no Filipino personnel were harmed. But we are concerned by the escalation and provocations by Chinese vessels, who have no business being in the West Philippine Sea," Malaya said.