KYODO — A Filipino serviceman was injured in an encounter between the Philippine Navy and the Chinese coast guard near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said Monday.
The Philippines said it deployed two rubber boats to drive away a China Coast Guard inflatable boat carrying eight personnel after it approached and began filming a dilapidated Philippine Navy warship intentionally grounded at the Manila-controlled, Beijing-claimed Second Thomas Shoal.
According to the Philippines, a Chinese coast guard member struck a Philippine Navy serviceman on the head with a wooden baton, injuring him. One of the rubber boats was also damaged.
"Any act of violence against Filipino personnel is unacceptable and will merit the appropriate diplomatic action," the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The Philippine tank landing ship Sierra Madre serves as the country's outpost at sea. In 2024, Beijing and Manila reached a temporary agreement to ease tensions following a series of confrontations, including one that year in which a Filipino sailor lost a finger after a Chinese vessel rammed a Philippine boat.
The Philippine military said the latest incident "escalates tensions" in the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty over most of the waters, including areas also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.
The China Coast Guard asserted in a statement that the Philippine side "distorted the facts and falsely accused" China, saying Philippine personnel attacked Chinese law enforcement officers first using tools such as oars and sticks.
A small Chinese coast guard patrol boat was conducting a routine patrol when the "illegally grounded" Philippine warship released two rubber boats, the statement claimed.
Ignoring multiple warnings, the boats quickly approached and dangerously rammed the Chinese patrol boat, it said.
