China accuses Philippines of harassing vessel in disputed waters

China's Coast Guard (CCG) has accused the Philippines of aggressive harassment after two small Philippine boats allegedly rammed a Chinese patrol vessel near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. The CCG stated that the incident occurred around 9:00 AM local time on Monday, when the two rubber boats, originating from the Sierra Madre vessel grounded by Manila at the shoal, rapidly approached and collided with the Chinese ship despite explicit warnings.

According to the CCG statement, the Philippine side "maliciously struck" Chinese personnel with oars, poles, and other tools. In response, the CCG claims it adopted measures including verbal warnings, vessel maneuvers, and reciprocal countermeasures to stabilize the situation. The CCG emphasized its commitment to continuing law enforcement operations in the area and firmly safeguarding national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

This incident is part of an ongoing dispute over the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands archipelago. The Philippines has maintained a small garrison on the grounded Sierra Madre since 1999 to assert its sovereignty. Philippine authorities argue that the shoal, along with the Scarborough Shoal occupied by Beijing, lies within their 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, granting them rights to resource exploitation under international law.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a critical global trade route. Tensions between China and the Philippines have escalated since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, with the Philippines strengthening its military alliance with the U.S. and adopting a firmer stance on territorial defense. This confrontation occurs just days before China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Manila for a meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers.