China, Philippines Trade Accusations After South China Sea Clash Injures Sailor

21/07/2026

MANILA / BEIJING, Jul 21: China and the Philippines traded accusations Tuesday over a maritime confrontation near a disputed reef in the South China Sea that left a Philippine sailor injured.

The incident occurred on Monday near Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Ren’ai Jiao and in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal, where Manila maintains a military outpost aboard the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre.

China released video footage of the confrontation, accusing Philippine personnel of ramming a China Coast Guard vessel and attacking Chinese officers during the encounter.

The footage, published by state-run China Daily, showed personnel aboard rigid inflatable boats approaching a Chinese patrol vessel. The China Coast Guard claimed the Philippine boats ignored warnings, moved toward the vessel at high speed, attempted to surround and ram it, and struck Chinese officers with paddles and long poles.

Beijing said its forces responded with verbal warnings and defensive maneuvers while exercising “maximum restraint,” accusing Manila of distorting the facts and engaging in provocative actions.

The Philippines rejected China’s account, saying its Navy personnel were conducting a lawful and non-confrontational operation near the BRP Sierra Madre when a China Coast Guard rubber boat approached the outpost.

Manila accused Chinese personnel of using violence, including striking Philippine Navy personnel with wooden batons and damaging Philippine boats. It said its forces maintained professionalism and restraint despite what it described as aggressive actions.

The latest confrontation adds to growing tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed waters in the South China Sea, where both countries have overlapping territorial claims.