The Philippines military has called on China to return rifles and other equipment seized during the confrontation at the Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine military chief also demanded compensation for the damage inflicted on their vessels.
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The confrontation occurred on June 17, 2024, at the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea.
The shoal is within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) but is also claimed by China. Philippine navy personnel were attempting to deliver supplies including firearms to their outpost on the shoal when they were intercepted by the Chinese coast guard.
Over eight Chinese motorboats were involved, repeatedly ramming and eventually boarding two Philippine navy inflatable boats.
Chinese personnel wielding knives, machetes and hammers damaged the Philippine boats. They seized eight M4 rifles, navigation equipment and other supplies.
Several Filipino sailors were injured including one who lost a thumb. The Philippine boats were damaged, with slashed side floaters, shattered windshields and broken navigational screens.
The Chinese reportedly threatened the Filipino personnel with knives leading to a physical scuffle where the unarmed Filipino sailors had to defend themselves with bare hands.
General Romeo Brawner Jr., head of the Philippine armed forces condemned the Chinese actions and demanded the return of the seized equipment and compensation for the damages.
He likened the incident to piracy and addressed the illegal boarding and seizure of their equipment.
General Brawner awarded a medal to the wounded navy officer in a public ceremony, highlighting the bravery of the Filipino personnel.
China accused the Philippines of trespassing and carrying out an illegal supply mission. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that the Chinese coast guard acted with restraint and only aimed to stop the supply mission.
China denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that their actions were professional and restrained. They accused the Philippines of escalating the situation by bringing construction materials and weapons to the outpost.
The United States renewed its commitment to defend the Philippines. This incident has raised concerns about the larger conflict involving major powers like the US and China.
The South China Sea is subject to conflicting territorial claims by several countries including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
The shoal is part of the Spratly Islands, an area of strategic importance and rich in resources. The Philippine navy maintains a presence on the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship serving as an outpost since 1999.
Hostilities between China and the Philippines have been increasing, with several confrontations over supply missions to the shoal.
The BRP Sierra Madre remains an active military vessel and any attack on it is considered an act of aggression by the Philippines.
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Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), each country has sovereign rights over an EEZ extending 200 nautical miles from their coast.
China’s claims over the South China Sea represented by the nine-dash line, were invalidated by an international tribunal in 2016.
China continues to enforce its claims aggressively. The Philippine Foreign Ministry condemned China’s actions and urged respect for international law.
China has been enforcing a 2021 law that permits the use of lethal force against foreign vessels in its claimed waters. Chinese coast guard personnel are authorized to detain foreign “trespassers” without trial.
The Philippines accused the Chinese Coast Guard of a “brutal assault” using an axe and other bladed weapons, attacking Filipino soldiers and damaging their rubber boat.
The confrontation occurred during a Philippine mission to resupply its troops stationed on a beached World War II-era warship asserting Manila’s territorial claims.
Video footage released by the Philippine military shows Chinese coast guard officers wielding an axe and other sharp tools.
The Chinese officers reportedly punctured the Filipino rubber boat and slashed it, showcasing a “brazen act of aggression.”
China claims “indisputable sovereignty” over nearly the entire South China Sea including the Spratly Islands, which are hundreds of miles from mainland China. The Philippines, along with other nations holds competing claims over parts of the South China Sea.
Philippine military officials accused Chinese Coast Guard officers of illegally boarding their boats, looting rifles and destroying communication and navigation equipment.
The Chinese forces also reportedly seized personal cellphones from Filipino personnel and punctured the rubber boats using knives and pointed tools.
The South China Sea is an important region due to its vast oil and natural gas reserves, rich fishing grounds and trade routes. The region is crucial for global trade with over 21% of international commerce passing through its waters.
China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea are demarcated by the “nine-dash line,” which covers about 90% of the area including regions close to the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam.
These claims are based on historical maritime rights, exceed what is allowed under international maritime law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which China has signed.
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