18-6-2024 (MANILA) A routine resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval ship grounded on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, took a dramatic and concerning turn on Monday. According to sources, at least eight Philippine Navy sailors sustained injuries after Chinese vessels intercepted and forcibly boarded one or more Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) dispatched to deliver supplies to the stranded vessel.
The incident, which has further heightened tensions in the long-standing maritime dispute in the region, allegedly involved the China Coast Guard ramming and boarding the Philippine boats. In the ensuing confrontation, one sailor reportedly lost a finger, while several others sustained injuries. Adding to the gravity of the situation, Chinese forces are said to have seized high-powered weapons from the Navy personnel and punctured one of the RHIBs.
As of now, the fate of the sailors and the status of the boats remain unclear, with the military yet to issue an official statement detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have condemned China’s actions in unequivocal terms.
“It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” declared Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., underscoring the escalating tensions and the potential implications for the region.
In a stark contrast to the Philippine accounts, China’s state-run media outlet, China Daily, presented a starkly different narrative. According to the report, the China Coast Guard claimed to have boarded, inspected, and forcibly driven away Philippine vessels that had “illegally intruded” into waters near Ren’ai Reef, the name China uses for Ayungin Shoal.
Gan Yu, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, asserted that the actions taken were “reasonable, lawful, professional, and standardized,” including issuing warnings, boarding the Philippine vessels, conducting inspections, and forcibly expelling them from the area.
The report further cited a new administrative law enforcement regulation unilaterally imposed by China this week, which stipulates that foreign vessels illegally entering China’s territorial waters or inland waters could be detained with the approval of the head of a city-level or higher coast guard authority.
“We once again sternly warn the Philippine side: any form of infringement or provocation is futile,” China Daily quoted Gan as saying, reflecting the escalating rhetoric and the hardening of positions on both sides.
