A chinese coast guard cutter has been accused of 'forcefully retrieving' a floating object, believed to be rocket debris, from a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea, reports BBC News.
Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of the Philippine Navy said a Chinese vessel blocked their course twice, before finally seizing the object.
Chinese officials have yet to respond to the allegations. It comes as US Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Philippines.
The debris was first spotted on Sunday at 06:45 local time (22:45 GMT Saturday), near the Philippine-controlled Pagasa Island, said Vice Adm Carlos.
He added that officers proceeded to the site and found a 'metallic' unidentified floating object.
As they were towing the object back, a Chinese coast guard cutter with the bow number 5203 approached their location and 'subsequently blocked their pre-plotted course twice'.
He said the Chinese boat then 'forcefully retrieved' the object by cutting the towing line attached to the Philippines' rubber boat. No one was injured in the incident, he said.
Spokeswoman Cheryl Tindog said the sailors did not fight the seizure since it was 'not a matter of life and death'.
The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the incident and a review would be conducted.
China has been increasingly assertive over what it claims are its centuries-old claims to the contested region, and has been rapidly building up its military presence.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam contest China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea.
SeaNews Turkey
Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos of the Philippine Navy said a Chinese vessel blocked their course twice, before finally seizing the object.
Chinese officials have yet to respond to the allegations. It comes as US Vice President Kamala Harris visits the Philippines.
The debris was first spotted on Sunday at 06:45 local time (22:45 GMT Saturday), near the Philippine-controlled Pagasa Island, said Vice Adm Carlos.
He added that officers proceeded to the site and found a 'metallic' unidentified floating object.
As they were towing the object back, a Chinese coast guard cutter with the bow number 5203 approached their location and 'subsequently blocked their pre-plotted course twice'.
He said the Chinese boat then 'forcefully retrieved' the object by cutting the towing line attached to the Philippines' rubber boat. No one was injured in the incident, he said.
Spokeswoman Cheryl Tindog said the sailors did not fight the seizure since it was 'not a matter of life and death'.
The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the incident and a review would be conducted.
China has been increasingly assertive over what it claims are its centuries-old claims to the contested region, and has been rapidly building up its military presence.
Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam contest China's claim to almost all of the South China Sea.
SeaNews Turkey