The Philippines and China have provided conflicting accounts of a maritime incident that occurred on June 17 near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea during a Philippine resupply mission. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that the encounter resulted in an injury to one of its sailors and damage to its vessels, while the China Coast Guard (CCG) stated its personnel took “control measures” against a Philippine vessel that had “illegally intruded” into the waters.
The incident took place as the Philippines conducted a rotation and resupply mission for troops stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a naval ship intentionally grounded on the shoal in 1999 to serve as a military outpost. Second Thomas Shoal, known as Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines and Ren’ai Jiao in China, is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
According to the AFP, CCG vessels engaged in actions that included “ramming and towing.” In a statement, the AFP said CCG personnel boarded Philippine rigid-hulled inflatable boats, seized firearms, and caused a Filipino sailor to sustain a “severe injury.” AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. later told reporters that the sailor lost a thumb and that the Chinese personnel were armed with bladed weapons. He described the actions as a “brazen act of aggression.”
The China Coast Guard released a different account of the events. It stated that a Philippine resupply ship disregarded repeated warnings from the Chinese side. According to the CCG, the Philippine vessel “dangerously approached a Chinese vessel in an unprofessional manner, resulting in a collision.” A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said the CCG took necessary control measures, including “warnings, interceptions, boarding inspections, and forced evictions,” describing the actions as “lawful, professional, and blameless.”
The incident prompted responses from international officials. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson condemned what she described as China’s “aggressive, dangerous maneuvers” and stated that the actions “caused bodily injury” and “damaged Philippine vessels.”
The U.S. Department of State also issued a statement, reaffirming that the Mutual Defense Treaty between the United States and the Philippines extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea. Ambassadors from Japan and France also released statements expressing support for the Philippines and opposition to actions that threaten regional stability.
