Philippines and China blame each other after sailor hurt at shoal
A confrontation near Second Thomas Shoal has added pressure to South China Sea talks taking place in Manila.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
China and the Philippines accused each other of causing a confrontation in the South China Sea after Manila said one of its sailors was injured near a disputed reef. The clash adds strain to talks in Manila where Southeast Asian foreign ministers, including China’s Wang Yi, were expected to discuss rising maritime tensions.
The incident happened Monday near Second Thomas Shoal, according to accounts from both governments. The shoal is the site of the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine warship that Manila uses as a military outpost.
The Philippine military said a Chinese coastguard vessel approached the outpost and harassed Philippine personnel. It said one sailor suffered head injuries after being struck with a wooden baton.
China’s coastguard denied that account. It said two Philippine boats ignored warnings and initiated the encounter by ramming one of its patrol vessels.
Second Thomas Shoal sits in a part of the South China Sea claimed by both countries. Beijing claims almost the entire sea and has called for the Philippine outpost to be removed.
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which China has ratified, the shoal is inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. The area is about 1,000km from mainland China, according to the geographic details cited in reports on the confrontation.
Manila has repeatedly pressed Beijing to comply with a 2016 international arbitration ruling that supported Philippine maritime rights. China did not take part in those proceedings.
The United States State Department condemned what it called China’s “dangerous and aggressive” conduct toward Philippine navy personnel. A department spokesperson said China’s actions formed part of a pattern of provocation against lawful Philippine maritime operations and harmed regional stability.
The latest dispute follows a series of confrontations around Philippine resupply and patrol missions in contested waters. The Second Thomas Shoal outpost has been a frequent flashpoint because Philippine forces stationed on the grounded ship depend on deliveries by sea, while Chinese vessels have sought to block or challenge Manila’s operations there.
The competing accounts leave the two governments far apart on responsibility for Monday’s clash. The incident also places renewed attention on whether regional diplomacy can reduce the risk of further encounters between vessels operating in the disputed waters.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.