China and the Philippines have attributed blame to each other following the collision of their vessels in the contested South China Sea.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) released a statement on Monday, claiming a minor collision involving a Philippine supply ship and a Chinese vessel was due to the actions of the Filipino vessel. The Philippines quickly refuted this claim, intensifying the ongoing dispute in the South China Sea region.

The Chinese press release stated that the Philippine supply ship disregarded multiple “stern warnings” and instead approached the Chinese coast guard vessel in a “reckless and unsafe” manner, resulting in the incident.

Details about potential injuries or the extent of damage were not disclosed in the statement.

Beijing accused the Philippine vessel of “illegally entering the waters near Ren’ai Reef in China’s Nansha Islands,” known internationally as Second Thomas Shoal within the disputed Spratly Islands, which the Philippines refers to as Ayungin Shoal. The Philippines purposely stranded the Sierra Madre, a navy transport ship, on the shoal in 1999 where Filipino marines now reside.

“The Chinese Coast Guard took necessary enforcement measures against the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law,” Beijing further noted.

Xerxes Trinidad, head of the public affairs office for the Philippine armed forces, labeled the CCG’s statements as “misleading and false,” adding that the military would withhold details regarding resupply missions.

“The increasingly aggressive behavior of the CCG is raising tensions in the region,” he said.

The Philippine military official highlighted the illegality of Chinese vessels' presence and activities within the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal, which falls within the Philippine’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Beijing asserts its claim over nearly the entire South China Sea through its nine-dash line, notwithstanding a 2016 ruling by an international tribunal invalidating such claims. Other nations, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, also claim parts of the sea.

China and the Philippines have repeatedly exchanged accusations of risky maneuvers and collisions in the contested shoal area, positioned roughly 200 kilometers (124 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from China’s southern Hainan island.

China implemented new regulations effective Saturday that uphold a 2021 law enabling its coastguard to use lethal force against foreign vessels in disputed waters.

Additionally, the coastguard is authorized to detain suspected foreign trespassers for up to 60 days without trial.