In a latest incident that has raised tensions in the hotly disputed South China Sea, the Philippines has accused China of engaging in what it deemed "dangerous maneuvers." The allegation comes after a Philippine naval vessel was shadowed and obstructed by a Chinese navy ship.

The encounter, which occurred on October 13 in the vicinity of Thitu Island, known as Pag-asa Island in the Philippines, involved the BRP Benguet, which had issued a radio warning to China's People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Ship 621. Subsequently, the PLAN ship followed the Benguet, which was on a resupply mission, and made an attempt to cross the ship's path at a proximity of 320 meters (approximately 350 yards), as disclosed in a statement by the Philippines Armed Forces via Facebook.

Thitu Island, a part of the Spratly Islands chain, has been under Philippine occupation since the 1970s and currently accommodates as many as 400 residents.

Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the chief of the Western Command, expressed concern over these "dangerous maneuvers," emphasizing that they present substantial risks to maritime safety, collision avoidance, and the lives of those at sea. He urged China to promptly cease these unsafe actions and adhere to international law in a professional manner.

This incident is just the latest in a series of encounters between the Philippines and China in areas located within Manila's 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometer) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In the preceding month, divers from the Philippine Coast Guard removed a floating barrier that had been installed at Scarborough Shoal. This shoal had been seized by Beijing from Manila after an extended standoff in 2012.

General Romeo Brawner, the chief of staff of the Philippines Armed Forces, issued a strong appeal to China, urging it to desist from such "dangerous maneuvers" and aggressive actions towards Philippine vessels. He emphasized the potential for collisions and the endangerment of lives of maritime personnel on both sides.

Incidents have also been reported near Second Thomas Shoal, particularly during resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, a Philippine vessel intentionally grounded on the reef in 1999 to bolster its claim to the waters. Second Thomas Shoal is situated about 195 kilometers (approximately 121 miles) northwest of the Philippine province of Palawan.

It's important to note that the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in 2016 that China's claim to the South China Sea had no legal basis. Despite this ruling, China has continued to disregard it, further expanding and developing military outposts in the disputed waters, along with deploying its fishing fleets, maritime militia, and coast guard to assert its territorial claims.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam also lay claim to various parts of the South China Sea. The Philippines' statement labeled Beijing's presence near Thitu Island as "illegal" and highlighted that China's actions constitute a breach of international law.

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