China employed what appeared to be a new tactic during its latest clash with the Philippines in the flash point South China Sea, with Manila claiming Chinese vessels had engaged in ¡°dangerous maneuvers,¡± including attempting to tow one of its ships.
Chinese and Philippine vessels have repeatedly clashed in the South China Sea, particularly near Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef claimed by both sides, but controlled by Manila. Vessels from both sides have collided during these clashes numerous times, but any attempt by the Chinese to tow away a Philippine ship could be seen as an escalation on the part of Beijing.
Washington, which has a mutual defense pact with Manila, condemned the ¡°escalatory and irresponsible actions¡± by China to prevent the Philippines from ¡°lawfully delivering humanitarian supplies¡± to service members stationed at a Philippine garrison built on a rusting hulk of the BRP Sierra Madre, a warship purposefully grounded on the shoal in 1999.
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