The Philippine military has accused the Chinese coast guard of a violent confrontation in the South China Sea, alleging that Chinese personnel rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats, resulting in injuries and equipment seizures. The incident, which occurred on Monday near Second Thomas Shoal, saw a Filipino sailor losing a thumb amidst what Filipino military chief General Romeo Brawner described as an aggressive boarding by armed Chinese personnel, news agency AFP reported. Brawner condemned the action as "piracy" and demanded the return of seized weapons and reparations for damaged equipment.
According to General Brawner, Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears, and knives boarded Filipino boats and confiscated firearms intended for Philippine troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal. Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres confirmed that seven firearms were seized, communication equipment was destroyed, and crew members' mobile phones were taken.
In response, China's foreign ministry defended the coast guard's actions, claiming they were "professional and restrained" in their law enforcement measures, AFP reported. Images released by Chinese state media purportedly show the moment of boarding, though independent verification could not be done.
Second Thomas Shoal, a strategic location in the South China Sea, has been a focal point of tensions between China and the Philippines, with Beijing asserting territorial claims despite international opposition and a ruling invalidating its claims.
The Philippines, supported by several Southeast Asian nations, contests China's expansive territorial claims, advocating for freedom of navigation in the region. The recent escalation underscores ongoing disputes over maritime sovereignty in one of the world's most contested waterways.
Located approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles) from Palawan in the Philippines and over 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan Island, Second Thomas Shoal has been the site of repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels.
General Brawner provided details of the incident following his visit to the injured sailor in Palawan, stating that Filipino personnel defended themselves "with our bare hands" after Chinese coast guard personnel from eight vessels boarded their rigid-hulled inflatable boats, AFP's report stated. He emphasised the gravity of the situation, saying, "They took guns and other equipment, destroyed our equipment on board including the motors. They punctured our rigid-hulled inflatable boats."
Rear Admiral Alfonso Torres, commander of the Philippines' South China Sea forces, corroborated the account, highlighting the extent of the damages and losses suffered. "Seven firearms were looted and forcibly taken," Torres reported, adding that navigation equipment and an outboard motor were also destroyed.
Brawner revealed that the Chinese coast guard carried "bolos" — a type of single-edged sword — as well as spears and knives during the boarding, whereas Filipino troops had none of these weapons. He clarified that the seized guns were intended for Filipino troops stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre warship on the shoal, and that the crew had been instructed not to display their weapons.
China has been deploying coast guard and other vessels around Second Thomas Shoal, and has undertaken extensive construction on several reefs in the South China Sea, converting them into militarised artificial islands.
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Chinese Coast Guard Boat Allegedly ‘Illegally Rammed’ A Filipino Boat At High Speed
The escalation on Monday began when a Chinese coast guard boat allegedly "illegally rammed" a Filipino boat at high speed, according to Rear Admiral Torres. He described how the incident resulted in the injury of a Naval Special Operations Group member, who lost a thumb due to the impact of the Chinese vessel landing on top of their boat's bow.
The Philippines and China have been engaged in a long-standing territorial dispute in the South China Sea, with tensions periodically flaring over conflicting claims to various islands and reefs. The international community has urged peaceful resolution of these disputes, emphasising adherence to international law and the preservation of freedom of navigation in the region.
The latest incident underscores the challenges faced by nations in the region as they navigate complex geopolitical tensions and assert their respective claims in one of the world's busiest and strategically significant maritime areas.