The Philippines and China exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Saturday, the latest in an escalating series of clashes in the vital waterway.

The collision near the Sabina Shoal was their fifth maritime confrontation in a month in a longstanding rivalry.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Portions of the waterway, where $3 trillion US worth of trade passes annually, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 found China’s sweeping claims had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela showed videos of Saturday’s confrontation at a news conference, saying China Coast Guard vessel 5205 “directly and intentionally rammed the Philippine vessel” without provocation.

The ramming damaged the 97-metre (320-foot) Teresa Magbanua, one of the Philippines’ largest coast guard cutters, but no personnel were injured, Tarriela said.

Philippines called on to withdraw immediately

Liu Dejun, a spokesperson for China’s coast guard, said in a statement a Philippine ship, “illegally stranded” at the shoal, had lifted anchor and “deliberately rammed” a Chinese vessel. He called on the Philippines to withdraw immediately or bear the consequences.

“The Chinese coast guard will take the measures required to resolutely thwart all acts of provocation, nuisance and infringement and resolutely safeguard the country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” Liu said.

Tarriela said Manila would not withdraw its ship “despite the harassment, the bullying activities and escalatory action of the Chinese coast guard.”

U.S. condemns Chinese ‘violations’

The U.S. ambassador to the Philippines expressed Washington’s support for the Philippines, a treaty ally.

“U.S. condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC (People’s Republic of China), including today’s intentional ramming,” Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said on the social media platform X.

The Philippines deployed a ship in April to the Sabina Shoal, 75 nautical miles (140 kilometres) from the coast of the Philippine province of Palawan. Manila accused Beijing of building an artificial island, saying it had documented piles of dead and crushed coral on the sandbars, which Beijing denies.

Manila has reported two other similar confrontations recently near the disputed atoll, in the internationally recognized exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. 

This week, the Philippine maritime council said Chinese aircraft made unsafe manoeuvres against a civilian aircraft conducting patrols over two other disputed areas, the Scarborough Shoal and Subi reef.

The Philippines accused China of blocking a routine resupply mission on Sunday, saying Chinese vessels rammed and used water cannons on a fisheries bureau ship transporting food, fuel and medical supplies for Filipino fishermen.

China is rapidly expanding its military and has become increasingly assertive in pursuing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is crucial to international trade.

The longtime territorial disputes also involve other claimants including Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.