The Philippine military has accused China’s Coast Guard of injuring one of its sailors during a confrontation in the South China Sea, escalating tensions between the two countries over their long running territorial dispute.
The incident occurred on Monday during a resupply mission to a Philippine military outpost in the disputed waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said a sailor sustained injuries during a scuffle after Chinese Coast Guard personnel attempted to block the operation.
Philippine military officials condemned what they described as “dangerous and aggressive actions” by Chinese forces, saying the confrontation endangered the lives of personnel carrying out a lawful mission within waters claimed by Manila. The injured sailor received medical treatment and was reported to be in stable condition.
China’s Coast Guard said its personnel acted in accordance with Chinese law to prevent what it described as an illegal intrusion into waters under Beijing’s jurisdiction. Chinese authorities accused the Philippines of violating its sovereignty and defended the actions of its coast guard officers.
The confrontation is the latest in a series of incidents involving Chinese and Philippine vessels around disputed features in the South China Sea, where both countries have competing territorial claims. The strategic waterway is also claimed in part by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, has repeatedly expressed concern over confrontations in the South China Sea and reaffirmed that its mutual defence treaty with Manila applies to armed attacks on Philippine public vessels, aircraft and armed forces in the Pacific, including the South China Sea.
Diplomatic efforts to ease tensions have so far yielded limited progress, with both Beijing and Manila continuing to assert their claims while increasing coast guard and naval patrols in the disputed waters.
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