Fatal Collision in Disputed South China Sea Claims Lives of Three Fishers
Three fishers lost their lives in a tragic collision between a Philippine fishing boat and a foreign commercial vessel in the contested South China Sea. The Philippine coast guard confirmed the incident, which occurred at around 4:20 am on Monday off Scarborough Shoal. Luckily, ten fishers managed to survive the collision and sought assistance.
According to crew members on board, the fishers’ mother boat, located 85 nautical miles northwest of Scarborough Shoal, sank, resulting in the deaths of its three crew members, including the boat captain. The Philippine coast guard released an incident report on Wednesday morning, revealing that the descriptions provided by the fishers matched those of a crude oil tanker vessel registered under the flag of Marshall Island.
In response to the incident, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plans to reach out to the vessel’s flag and the next port it is set to visit. The purpose of this engagement is to have the port state control officers board the vessel. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos expressed his deep sadness over the tragic loss of lives and vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the collision. However, he urged against engaging in speculation until further information becomes available.
The surviving crew members transported the deceased fishers to Infanta, located in the province of Pangasinan, where they arrived on Tuesday at 10 am. The Philippine Coast Guard indicated that adverse weather conditions led to particularly dark surroundings, making it challenging for the crew on the mother boat to detect an approaching unidentified vessel, resulting in the collision.
The South China Sea is highly contested, with multiple nations, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, laying claim to parts of its waters. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that was invalidated by a UN tribunal. Scarborough Shoal, where the collision occurred, is claimed by both the Philippines and China, with China effectively exercising control over the area. However, sovereignty has never been definitively established.
Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated in recent months. Last week, the Philippines condemned the Chinese Coast Guard for installing a hazardous floating barrier near Scarborough Shoal, which it deemed a violation of international law. China defended its actions, stating they were carried out in a professional and restrained manner. The Philippines conducted a special operation to remove the barrier by disguising its operatives as fishers who then used snorkels to cut away at the rope.
As the world closely watches developments in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, this unfortunate collision serves as a somber reminder of the risks faced by fishers and the ongoing complexities surrounding the maritime disputes in the region.
