According to the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese coast guard ship rammed a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship and sprayed water cannons at it on the Scarborough Reef, which the Philippines claims is within its exclusive economic zone and China claims is under its sovereignty.
In response to the accusations, the Chinese Coast Guard said the Philippine ships approached “dangerously close” to them and that the actions of the Chinese crew were “in accordance with the law.” They also accused the Philippines of “making false accusations” and alleged that it was the Philippine ship that deliberately caused the crash.