Reported about 1 year ago
On June 20, 2024, at 8:20 am, footage released by the Philippine military showed Chinese coast guard forcibly boarding a Filipino vessel with axes in Ren'ai Ansha waters. The Philippines accused Chinese coast guard of ramming and illegally boarding their vessel on the 17th, causing numerous injuries and allegedly resulting in a Filipino navy personnel losing a thumb during the standoff. China's Foreign Ministry countered by stating that the Chinese coast guard lawfully controlled the entry of the Filipino vessel into the Ren'ai Ansha waters of the Nansha Islands and released footage of four Chinese vessels surrounding one Filipino dinghy. The sovereignty dispute between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea has escalated, leading to protests at the Chinese embassy in the Philippines and receiving support from the US, Japan, and France. The old Philippine military vessel BRP Sierra Madre, stranded in the disputed Ren'ai Ansha waters and regularly supplied by Philippine navy personnel, has faced multiple blockades by Chinese coast guard. Despite the vessel being rusty, the Philippines claims it is still in service. The US State Department criticized China's behavior as irresponsible, with Secretary of State Blinken reaffirming the US commitment to the Philippines under the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, and warning of the potential for large-scale conflict due to China's provocative actions.
Source: YAHOO