▲ A Chinese Coast Guard motorboat (white) pushes against a Philippine Navy rubber boat (black) as Chinese Coast Guard personnel strike Philippine soldiers with long poles.
A Philippine soldier was allegedly assaulted by Chinese Coast Guard personnel in disputed waters of the South China Sea, just ahead of a scheduled meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers on July 21.
According to the Philippine military on July 20 (local time), a Chinese Coast Guard motorboat approached the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine Navy ship stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, to take photos and videos earlier that day.
The Philippine side claims that when Philippine Navy personnel in two rubber boats requested the Chinese side to withdraw, eight Chinese Coast Guard members on the motorboat struck them with wooden clubs and other objects, causing injuries and damaging the rubber boats.
The Philippines released a 25-second video showing the Chinese Coast Guard motorboat aggressively pushing against the much smaller Philippine rubber boats, while several Chinese personnel swung long poles at the Philippine soldiers. They also released a photo of a Philippine soldier with a laceration on his head.
In a statement, the Philippine Department of National Defense said, "The latest act of violence and harassment by the China Coast Guard against Philippine Navy personnel demonstrates a clear pattern of provocative and hostile behavior, further deepening the loss of trust and credibility in China."
On the other hand, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that a small patrol boat of the China Coast Guard was conducting a routine patrol in nearby waters around 9:00 a.m. that day when the Philippine side approached dangerously and attacked first.
The Chinese side claimed that during this process, Philippine personnel maliciously attacked Chinese law enforcement officers first with oars and long sticks.
China also accused the Philippines of distorting the facts and framing the Chinese side, urging them to immediately stop what it called fabricated propaganda.
The Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea is a major area of territorial dispute between China and the Philippines.
In June 2024, an incident occurred at the same location where Chinese Coast Guard personnel rammed a Philippine Navy boat with a motorboat, resulting in the amputation of a Philippine Navy soldier's right thumb.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministers of China and the Philippines are scheduled to meet for the first time in two years at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which will be held in Manila, Philippines, from July 21 to 23.
(Photo: Capture from X by Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson; Yonhap News)
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