• The Philippines accuses a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming its government vessel, BRP Datu Pagbuaya.
• The incident occurred near Thitu Island, part of the contested Spratly Islands.
• China claims the Philippine vessel dangerously approached its ship, asserting full responsibility for the incident.
• The U.S. has condemned China's aggressive actions, reaffirming support for the Philippines.
• The clash highlights the rising tensions in the strategic waters of the South China Sea.

The Philippines has accused a Chinese ship of deliberately ramming its government vessel, the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, near Thitu Island in the South China Sea. The incident was reported to have occurred at 9:15 AM local time, when a Chinese coast guard ship first fired water cannons at the Philippine vessel before ramming into its stern, causing minor structural damage but no injuries to the crew, according to the Philippine Coast Guard statements Channel News Asia, Reuters, and Al Jazeera.

Chinese authorities, however, assert that the Philippine vessel was unlawfully in Chinese waters and dangerously approached a Chinese ship, leading to the collision. "Full responsibility lies with the Philippine side," a Chinese coast guard spokesman stated, implying that the Philippines neglected repeated warnings TRT Global, Los Angeles Times, and South China Morning Post.

This incident is viewed as part of a broader escalation of tensions between China and the Philippines over territorial claims in the South China Sea, a region crucial for global trade routes. The U.S. government has vocally condemned China's aggressive maneuvers, emphasizing its commitment to support the Philippines in this ongoing maritime dispute Business Insider and India Times.

Historical context reveals that confrontations between vessels from the two nations have become increasingly frequent as China maintains expansive claims over most of the South China Sea, conflicting with the rights of neighboring countries, including claims reaffirmed by a 2016 international tribunal ruling that declared most of China's claims invalid India Times, Channel News Asia, and India Times.