TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Sunday (Sept. 2) condemned Beijing's “bullying behavior” after a Chinese coast guard ship rammed the flagship of the Philippine coast guard on Saturday (Aug. 31). 

At around noon Saturday at Xianbin Jiao (仙賓礁, Sabina Shoal), Chinese coast guard vessel 5205 rammed BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) three times, punching a hole in its hull among other damage, per USNI News. MOFA slammed the Chinese coast guard's “dangerous maneuvers” and noted that this was the third collision at the shoal in two weeks.  

The ministry said China has repeatedly used the pretext of "rights protection" in the waters near Xianbin Jiao to harass and obstruct the legitimate navigation of Philippine ships through “illegal, threatening, coercive and dangerous navigation, and other non-peaceful means." MOFA condemned China's “bullying behavior of repeatedly and deliberately creating maritime conflicts in the same waters and escalating tensions in the South China Sea.”

The ministry reiterated that Taiwan opposes any actions that threaten the security of the South China Sea and undermine regional peace and stability. It urged all parties to exercise self-restraint, abide by international law and relevant provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and insist on resolving disputes peacefully. 

MOFA said Taiwan would continue to monitor the situation in the South China Sea with its international partners to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.