Manila/Beijing: Tensions have escalated once again in the South China Sea after the Philippine military accused the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) of assaulting a Filipino sailor during an encounter near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (Ayungin Shoal).

According to the Philippine military, the incident was captured on video and allegedly involved Chinese Coast Guard personnel striking a Filipino sailor with a wooden baton, leaving him injured. Philippine authorities also claimed that a Philippine Navy rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) sustained damage during the confrontation.

Philippines Condemns Incident

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) strongly condemned the alleged assault, describing it as part of a continuing pattern of “provocative and hostile behaviour” by Chinese maritime forces in the disputed waters.

Officials said the incident occurred while Philippine personnel were carrying out operations near the BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded naval vessel that serves as Manila’s military outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.

Disputed Waters

Second Thomas Shoal is one of the most sensitive flashpoints in the South China Sea, where both China and the Philippines claim sovereignty.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea under its “nine-dash line,” while the Philippines maintains that the shoal lies within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China Yet to Respond

At the time of reporting, Chinese authorities had not issued an official response to the Philippine allegations.

Beijing has consistently maintained that its coast guard operates lawfully in what it considers Chinese territorial waters and has previously accused the Philippines of conducting illegal activities in the area.

Rising Maritime Tensions

The latest incident comes amid a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels over the past two years, including allegations involving water cannon attacks, dangerous manoeuvres, collisions and obstruction of Philippine resupply missions.

The recurring incidents have raised concerns about stability in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

The situation remains under close international scrutiny as regional tensions continue to rise.