Chinese and Philippine vessels collided on Monday near disputed shallow waters in the South China Sea, both countries said.
The two countries blamed each other for the incident near Sabina Reef.
China and the Philippines have been engaged in a series of standoffs in the strategic maritime area in recent months, including over a warship that Manila ran aground on the garrisoned Second Thomas Shoal several years ago. China continues to press its claims over almost the entire South China Sea, despite an international court ruling that said its claims have no legal basis.
Geng Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, said the Philippine ship “intentionally collided” with the Chinese vessel early on Monday.
“Philippine coast guard vessels illegally entered waters near Xianbin Reef in the Spratly Islands without authorization from the Chinese government,” Geng said, using the Chinese names for Sabina Reef and the Spratly Islands.
“The China Coast Guard has taken restrictive measures against Philippine vessels in accordance with the law,” Geng added.
Meanwhile, the West Philippine Sea National Task Force in Manila said two of the country’s coast guard vessels were damaged in collisions with Chinese ships engaged in “illegal and aggressive activities” near Sabina Reef.
The Manila government said the collision “caused structural damage to two Philippine Coast Guard vessels.”
China claims Sabina Reef, 140 kilometers (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan, the nearest major landmass, and more than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from China’s nearest major landmass, Hainan Island.
Manila and Beijing have deployed coast guard vessels around the shallow waters in recent months, and the Philippines is concerned that China is trying to build artificial islands there.
Footage of the incident attributed to the China Coast Guard and shared by state broadcaster CCTV showed a vessel, which Beijing identified as a Philippine ship, colliding with the Chinese vessel’s port flank before passing by.
Another 15-second video appears to show the Chinese vessel making contact with the rear of the Philippine vessel, after a caption next to the footage says the Philippine vessel “suddenly changed direction,” causing the collision.
A Chinese coast guard spokesman accused the Philippine vessel of “unprofessional and dangerous behaviour, which led to the collision.”
“We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringements and provocative acts,” Geng said.
But Manila blamed China, with National Security Council Secretary-General Jonathan Malaya saying the 13-centimeter (5-inch) hole in the starboard side of the Philippine BRP Cape Engano was the result of “aggressive actions” by a Chinese coast guard vessel that led to the collision.
Malaya said a second Philippine Coast Guard vessel, the BRP Bagacay, was “rammed twice” by the Chinese coast guard vessel about 15 minutes later, suffering “minor structural damage”.
The Philippine crew was unharmed and continued its resupply mission to Philippine military-held islands in the Spratly Islands, he added.
China’s state news agency Xinhua reported the incident happened at 3:24 a.m. local time on Monday (19:24 GMT Sunday), adding that a Philippine Coast Guard vessel had entered the waters near Second Thomas Reef at about 6 a.m.
Repeated clashes in the South China Sea have raised concerns that Manila’s ally, the United States, could be drawn into the conflict as China strengthens its territorial claims in the area.
Analysts say Beijing’s aim is to advance from the neighbouring Second Thomas Reef towards Sabina Reef, encroaching on Manila’s exclusive economic zone and normalising Chinese control over the region.
The situation is reminiscent of 2012, when Beijing seized Scarborough Shoal, another strategic area in the South China Sea closest to the Philippines.