A Philippine vessel approaches a China Coast Guard vessel in a dangerous manner and leads to a bump in waters off China's Ren'ai Reef in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea on October 22, 2023. Photo: Screenshot from a video released by China Coast Guard

Philippine vessels on Sunday dangerously approached Chinese vessels which led to bumps during the China Coast Guard's (CCG) interception on their rights-infringing trespasses in waters off China's Ren'ai Jiao, also known as Ren'ai Reef, in the South China Sea, with experts warning of more aggressive Philippine provocations that could lead to more serious collisions.

Despite repeated dissuasions and warnings from China, the Philippines insisted on sending two transport ships and two coast guard ships to trespass into waters off China's Ren'ai Reef in the Nansha Islands, attempting to send illegal building materials to the Philippine warship illegally grounded on the reef, Gan Yu, a spokesperson at the CCG, said in a press release on Sunday.

In a statement on Sunday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry again urged the Philippines to stop stirring up troubles at sea and tow its warship illegally grounded on Ren'ai Reef as soon as possible.

With several verbal warnings ignored by the Philippine side, China Coast Guard ships took restriction measures on the Philippine ships that carried illegal building materials in accordance with the law, and made a temporary special arrangement to the Philippine ships that carried necessary living supplies including foods, Gan said.

During the event, Philippine vessels ignored stern warnings from the Chinese side and approached Chinese vessels in an unsafe manner, leading to bumps, Gan said.

At 6:14 am, the Unaiza May 2 vessel disregarded repeated, clear-stated warnings and intentionally crossed the bow of the China Coast Guard Ship 5203 in an unprofessional and dangerous way when the Chinese vessel was sailing normally and carrying out law enforcement, leading to a slight bump, according to a separate CCG press release.

At 8:13 am, the Philippine Coast Guard Ship 4409 intentionally stirred up trouble, deliberately sailed in reverse and bumped into the starboard side of China's Qiong Sansha Yu 00003 ship with its rear, while the Chinese ship was stationary and drifting, making the Philippine move a deliberate provocation that escalated the situation on-site, the press release said.

The moves taken by the Philippine side seriously violated the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, threatened Chinese vessels' navigation safety, while the Chinese sides' moves were professional, up to standards, rightful and lawful, and the responsibilities lie completely with the Philippine side, CCG said.

The Philippines has been stirring up troubles in the South China Sea since August, creating several incidents around China's Ren'ai Reef, Huangyan Island and Zhongye Island.

By causing the bump events, the Philippines is escalating the situation, showing its strong stance and testing China's resolves, Chen Xiangmiao, director of the World Navy Research Center at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the Global Times on Sunday.

In this way, the Philippines attempts to create more excuses for the US to support it, win more diplomatic sympathy from other countries and further develop its military and coast guard forces, Chen said.

A more serious collusion cannot be ruled out if the Philippines insists on making attempts to reinforce its illegally grounded warship and ramps up provocations, experts said.

China gave all warnings in advance, and it is the Philippines that violated China's sovereignty, international regulations and its own promises, so the responsibility is on the Philippine side, Chen said.

China has undisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands including the Ren'ai Reef and their surrounding waters, and the Philippines has violated China's territorial sovereignty, violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and violated its own promises, Gan said.

"We urge the Philippines to immediately stop its rights-infringing moves, and the CCG will continue to carry out rights-safeguarding and law enforcement activities in waters under Chinese jurisdiction according to the law, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and maritime rights," Gan said.