Philippine coastguard accuses China ship of risking collision

The Philippine Coast Guard has accused its Chinese counterpart of steering one of its ships within meters of a Filipino patrol vessel in the disputed South China Sea, breaking international rules and risking a collision.

The incident happened on March 2 near the contested Scarborough Shoal -- one of the region's richest fishing grounds and a flashpoint between the two countries -- but was only made public Sunday.

A Philippine Coast Guard vessel sails near one of the China Coast Guard. Photo by AFP

It was the fourth time in the past year that a Chinese coastguard vessel had conducted "close distance maneuvering" near the shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said in a statement.

China seized Scarborough from the Philippines in 2012 following a tense standoff.

The Southeast Asian country continues to patrol the waters around the shoal, which is inside its Exclusive Economic Zone.

"The behavior of the involved (China Coast Guard) vessels increased the risk of collision with four of our capital ships," PCG chief Admiral Artemio Abu said.

In the March 2 incident, the PCG said the Chinese vessel came within about 19 meters of its patrol boat, which was in "clear violation" of the 1972 International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea.

The PCG has referred the matter to the foreign ministry, which recently summoned China's ambassador over a separate incident involving a Chinese navy ship "lingering" in the Philippines' archipelagic waters.

Abu said his agency was under government orders to maintain patrols near Scarborough Shoal, where Filipino fishermen continue to fish.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese embassy or the Philippine foreign ministry.

Tensions between Manila and Beijing over the South China Sea, which China claims almost its entirety, have intensified in the final year of President Rodrigo Duterte's term in office.

Beijing has ignored a 2016 international tribunal decision that declared its historical claim over most of the South China Sea to be without basis.

Duterte set aside the ruling in exchange for promises of trade and investment, which critics said have not materialized.

But in November he hardened his stance, expressing outrage after Chinese coastguard ships fired water cannon at Filipino boats.

This latest incident comes on the eve of the biggest-ever war games between the Philippines and the United States.