Philippine authorities have accused China’s Coast Guard of a hostile attack against a Philippine supply boat in the contested waters of the South China Sea. This attack allegedly resulted in substantial damage to the boat and injuries to multiple crew members.
According to reports, the Philippine supply boat was undertaking a routine rotation and resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre – a stranded Philippine warship located close to the Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the South China Sea, when the incident occurred. The Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels are said to have blockaded the ship’s passage, prior to launching a water canon assault and engaging in dangerous maneuvers against the supply boat.
The spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, Jay Tarriela, conveyed his dismay towards this episode, calling it an act of “unprovoked aggression and coercion.” He elaborated on his thoughts in a statement through social media. Tarriela was dismissive of China’s “hollow claims to peace, dialogue, and adherence to international law,” given its continuous engagement in such “illegal and irresponsible actions.”
In response, the Chinese Coast Guard, through their spokesperson Gan Yu, retorted that the Philippines was intentionally destabilizing the South China Sea’s tranquility by delivering supplies to an “illegally grounded military vessel”. Gan emphasized that the China Coast Guard had executed their duties lawfully and professionally, and would continue to sternly protect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights.
These recent events add to a history of contentious relations between the two nations concerning the South China Sea. China’s claim over nearly the entire region has been a long-standing bone of contention. Altercations over maritime rights have become common, despite the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling against China’s all-encompassing territorial claims.
Despite recent attempts at dialogue and bilateral consultation, with an agreement to enhance maritime communication and pursue peaceful resolution, developments like Saturday’s incident disrupt any potential progress. These exchanges echo a turbulent history of China’s assertive behavior, including an incident where water cannons were similarly used against Philippine vessels and a deliberate collision occurred with a Philippine supply boat.
Tarriela stated that these events would not discourage the Philippines from exercising its legal rights over its maritime territories. He urged China to exhibit through actions rather than words that it could be trusted as a responsible member of the international community.