world
China Coast Guard and Philippine Navy vessels clash at Ayungin Shoal, sailor struck
A Philippine Navy sailor sustained an open head wound of about 1.5 inches after being struck with a wooden baton by a China Coast Guard member during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal early Monday. The incident damaged a Philippine rubber boat. The Armed Forces of the Philippines condemned the actions as endangering personnel.
Jul 20, 3:53 AM·1m read3 sources
IN
RoutineAggression
RapplerAudio version
Tap play to generate a narrated version.
A China Coast Guard member struck a Philippine Navy sailor on the head with a wooden baton during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea early Monday, causing an open wound of about 1.5 inches. Eight China Coast Guard personnel on a rigid-hull inflatable boat approached within 20 yards of the BRP Sierra Madre.
The boat came from a China Coast Guard vessel with hull number 21560 anchored about 600 yards away.
The personnel took photographs and videos of the Philippine vessel before Philippine forces deployed two rubber boats to order them away. After the China Coast Guard vessel refused to leave, Philippine personnel used boat paddles to drive it off.
The injured sailor received first aid upon returning to the BRP Sierra Madre. The Armed Forces of the Philippines stated that the actions caused injury and damaged the Navy rubber boat. The Armed Forces of the Philippines added that the China Coast Guard actions demonstrate a blatant disregard for safety, endanger the lives of personnel, and escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
The BRP Sierra Madre has served as a Philippine military outpost at the shoal since it was run aground in 1999. The clash occurred days before foreign ministers including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are scheduled to arrive in Manila for ASEAN events.
