Philippine Government Condemns China Coast Guard After Filipino Sailor Injured at Ayungin Shoal

 

A fresh confrontation in the West Philippine Sea has intensified diplomatic tensions after a Philippine Navy serviceman stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre sustained a head injury during an encounter involving members of the China Coast Guard at Ayungin Shoal.

According to the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS), the incident unfolded at approximately 9:15 a.m. when China Coast Guard vessel 21560 launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat toward the grounded Philippine naval outpost. The BRP Sierra Madre remains stationed at Ayungin Shoal, an area that falls within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and continental shelf under international law.

Philippine authorities reported that Chinese personnel ignored repeated instructions to leave the vicinity and instead moved closer to the vessel, allegedly attempting to approach and potentially board it. During the confrontation, one Chinese crew member struck a Filipino serviceman on the head with a wooden baton. The injured sailor required immediate medical treatment, although officials have not released his identity.

The NTF-WPS described the incident as another serious violation that endangered personnel carrying out lawful duties in Philippine waters. Officials warned that such actions increase the possibility of dangerous incidents at sea and further undermine regional stability.

The task force also reaffirmed that Filipino troops assigned to the West Philippine Sea will continue to perform their responsibilities with discipline, restraint, and adherence to international law despite repeated confrontations.

The organization urged China to halt activities that threaten the safety of military personnel and called on Beijing to honor its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The appeal emphasized that lasting peace in the West Philippine Sea and the broader South China Sea depends on respect for internationally recognized maritime rules rather than the use of intimidation or force. Much like traffic laws prevent collisions on busy highways, maritime law provides a common framework intended to reduce conflict between nations operating in shared waters.

The Department of National Defense echoed the condemnation, describing the latest confrontation as part of an established pattern of hostile and provocative conduct. The agency stated that these recurring incidents continue to erode China's credibility and reinforce the Philippine government's position that meaningful trust cannot be established under such circumstances. While the department referred to its policy of disengagement, it did not specify what measures this approach entails.

Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs labeled the assault on the Filipino serviceman as unacceptable and confirmed that it is coordinating closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the incident.

Political leaders also weighed in. Akbayan Representatives Perci Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to expel Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan following the latest confrontation. The Chinese Embassy had not issued an immediate response.

The incident comes just days before Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro is scheduled to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers' meeting in Manila, where maritime security and regional stability are expected to remain among the key issues on the agenda.