MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday accused the China Coast Guard of injuring a Filipino sailor during a confrontation at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the latest in a series of tense encounters between the two countries in the South China Sea.
According to the Philippine military, Chinese coast guard personnel aboard an inflatable motorboat repeatedly struck a Philippine Navy sailor on the head with a wooden baton, injuring him and damaging a navy rubber boat during the incident near the BRP Sierra Madre, the country’s military outpost grounded at the shoal.
The AFP said the confrontation was recorded on video by other Filipino sailors stationed in the area. Officials emphasized that Philippine personnel acted with restraint and did not engage in actions that could escalate the situation.
“The Chinese coast guard vessel personnel reacted violently and aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury and damaging the navy rubber boat,” the military said in a statement.
The military added that the injured sailor was undergoing medical assessment to determine whether he required evacuation for further treatment.
China’s Coast Guard rejected the Philippine account, alleging that two Philippine rubber boats from what it described as an “illegally” grounded vessel rammed a Chinese patrol boat in a dangerous manner. In a statement posted on social media, Chinese authorities also accused Philippine personnel of attacking Chinese law enforcement officers with oars and long sticks.
The Department of National Defense (DND) strongly condemned the incident, describing it as another example of China’s “provocative and hostile behavior” in the West Philippine Sea.
“The latest act of violence and harassment committed by the China Coast Guard against Philippine Navy personnel adds to a clear pattern of provocative and hostile behavior and further contributes to the People’s Republic of China’s deficit of trust and credibility,” the DND said.
The Philippine military said a Chinese coast guard inflatable boat carrying eight personnel approached the BRP Sierra Madre at close range after being launched from a larger coast guard vessel. The Chinese personnel allegedly circled the Philippine outpost while taking photographs and videos before the confrontation occurred.
Filipino sailors aboard two rubber boats reportedly asked the Chinese vessel to move away in what the military described as a non-confrontational manner before the encounter turned violent.
Despite the incident, the AFP reiterated its commitment to continue carrying out lawful operations in the West Philippine Sea.
“No act of coercion or aggression will deter us from carrying out our constitutional mandate or exercising the Philippines’ lawful rights in the West Philippine Sea,” the military said.
The Second Thomas Shoal, known locally as Ayungin Shoal, has remained a major flashpoint in the territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing. The Philippines intentionally grounded the BRP Sierra Madre on the shoal in 1999 to reinforce its territorial claim and maintain a military presence. China, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line, has repeatedly demanded that the vessel be removed.
The latest confrontation comes as foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gather in Manila this week for annual meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Maritime disputes in the South China Sea are expected to be among the key issues on the agenda.
ASEAN and China have been negotiating a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea aimed at reducing tensions and preventing incidents from escalating into armed conflict. The disputed waterway is claimed in part by the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, and remains one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important maritime routes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
- Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
