Philippines summons Chinese envoy over South China Sea collisions

(FILES) Chinese coast guard ships (L and R) corral a Philippine civilian boat chartered by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies to Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre in the disputed South China Sea, / AFP

Manila summoned Beijing’s ambassador on Monday over two collisions between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the disputed South China Sea, a foreign ministry official said. 

The countries have traded blame over Sunday’s incidents near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, with both sides releasing videos to support their accusations.

The two collisions happened during a routine Philippine resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed on a navy vessel grounded on the shoal to assert Manila’s territorial claims.

“We’re making full use of diplomatic processes… available to us. That includes summoning the Chinese ambassador (Huang Xilian), which we did this…