Tensions flared anew in the South China Sea after China deployed several coast guard ships, maritime militia vessels, and fast boats with mounted weapons near a Philippine warship grounded at Second Thomas Shoal—known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal—on Wednesday.
“China Coast Guard vessels have been observed conducting maneuvers and drills involving the use of water cannons at sea, while a number of smaller craft—such as rigid-hulled inflatable boats and fast boats—were also deployed inside the shoal,” AFP said in a statement.
A total of five Chinese coast guard vessels were spotted, along with 11 fast boats “upgraded with mounted weapons, including heavy crew-served weapons,” and nine maritime militia vessels. The deployment was further supported by a Chinese navy helicopter and a drone.
Video footage released by the AFP showed two Philippine rubber boats attempting to block a Chinese small boat armed with a heavy machine gun from approaching the BRP Sierra Madre—a Philippine Navy vessel deliberately grounded at Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to serve as an outpost and symbol of Manila’s claim.
“This is a form of intimidation. They are trying to coerce us by showing their capability… We’ve been here before. Our soldiers are undaunted and are convinced of the legitimacy of our stand,”
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea
Also on Friday, the CCG called on the Philippines to “immediately cease infringement activities, provocations, and false accusations,” according to a report by state-run Xinhua. The CCG said it would continue law enforcement operations in the waters of Ren’ai Jiao—China’s name for Second Thomas Shoal—vowing to “resolutely defend” national sovereignty and maritime rights.
Located 105 nautical miles off Palawan, Second Thomas Shoal lies within the area Manila refers to as the West Philippine Sea, part of its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. The shoal has been a flashpoint in recent years, particularly during Philippine resupply missions to the Sierra Madre.
One of the most violent incidents in the shoal occurred on June 17 last year, when a Philippine Navy sailor’s thumb was severed as Chinese troops punctured, boarded, and towed Philippine vessels. A month later, the Philippines and China reached a “provisional arrangement” to de-escalate the situation in Ayungin.
This latest incident comes on the heels of a collision earlier this month involving Chinese ships chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Scarborough Shoal, another contested area in the South China Sea. Beijing has yet to officially acknowledge the incident, which reportedly resulted in damage to both Chinese navy and coast guard vessels. It was unknown whether there were casualties.
