Chinese coastguard hits Philippines boat as tensions rise over disputed islands

"China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in disputed waters of the South

China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked a Philippine boat supplying forces there.... the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The Philippines has been sending supplies to troops stationed on a rusted World War Two-era transport ship used as an outpost on the shoal, prompting China’s coastguard to repeatedly deploy vessels to block the resupply missions. China’s coastguard said there had been a “slight collision” between one of its ships and the Philippine boat while the coastguard was “lawfully” blocking the boat from transporting “illegal construction materials” to the warship. Manila responded by condemning “in the strongest degree” the “dangerous blocking maneuvers” of the Chinese vessel." Telegraph