An oil tanker reportedly rammed and capsized a Philippine fishing boat in the South China Sea. The Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday that three fishermen, including the captain, were killed. It is still unclear whether it was an accident.
According to the Coast Guard, the weather conditions and visibility were unfavorable. The crew of the fishing boat Dearyn could not recognize the tanker. He flew the flag of the Marshall Islands and continued driving after the incident. Three fishermen were reported killed and 10 others survived the incident, the Philippine side said.
The ship has not yet been identified and the investigation is still ongoing, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. He expressed his regret on Wednesday, but at the same time warned against speculation about the cause. The incident took place on Monday near Scarborough Shoal reef. The reef, called Huangyan Island in China, is located 230 kilometers off the northern coast of the Philippines.
Military conflict 2012
It was the focus of a military incident between the two countries in 2012, after which the Chinese side occupied the reef. Although a court ruled in 2016 that China’s historic rights to the area were invalid, the government there does not recognize the ruling.
Just last week, the Philippine Coast Guard removed a Chinese floating barrier on part of the reef. It should have prevented Filipino fishermen from entering the area.
Source: Krone
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