By Agence France-Presse

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) accused the China Coast Guard on Monday of clubbing a Filipino sailor with a baton as they approached a grounded vessel that has long served as a Philippine garrison in the West Philippine Sea.

News of the incident on Monday came just hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs said the two countries’ top diplomats would meet at a regional summit in Manila this week.

The Philippines said in a statement a Chinese rigid-hull inflatable boat carrying eight men had circled and taken photos and video of the BRP Sierra Madre, which sits on the flashpoint Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in the Spratly archipelago.

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis, and has frequently clashed with Philippine vessels in the area.

The latest clash in the crucial waterway took place after two rubber boats were sent to drive them away, the statement said.

“The [Chinese Coast Guard] personnel reacted violently and aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury and damaging the Navy rubber boat,” the statement said.

The AFP said it exercised professionalism and acted according to laws, and called on the People’s Liberation Army and China Coast Guard to stop their “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions” in the West Philippine Sea.

“These latest aggressive actions and assault by the CCGV demonstrate a blatant disregard for safety, endanger the lives of our personnel and escalates tensions in the West Philippine Sea,” the AFP said.

“The AFP remains steadfast in protecting the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction. Our lawful presence and sustainment operations in Ayungin Shoal will continue,” it added. “No act of coercion or aggression will deter us from carrying out our constitutional mandate or exercising the Philippines’ lawful rights in the West Philippine Sea.”

The Department of National Defense said in a separate statement the encounter added “to a clear pattern of provocative and hostile behavior” by the Chinese coast guard.

“The latest act of violence and harassment committed by the China Coast Guard against Philippine Navy personnel stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal adds to a clear pattern of provocative and hostile behavior, and further contributes to the People’s Republic of China’s deficit of trust and credibility,” it said.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not respond immediately to a request for comment. P shows the head injury suffered by the Navy man from the attack. Its Western Command provided immediate medical attention, it said. Photo: Armed Forces of the In June 2024, Chinese law enforcement personnel armed with knives, sticks and an axe attacked Filipino troops attempting to resupply troops on the Sierra Madre.

The two sides said a month later they had reached a provisional deal on resupply missions to the ship, which was grounded to assert Manila’s claims to Ayungin Shoal.

Monday’s clash comes on the heels of an ongoing war of words between China and the Philippines over their South China Sea claims.

Manila filed a diplomatic protest on Friday over a “racist” video posted by Chinese state media in which the Philippines was portrayed as a cartoon monkey. China has denied that the video was made by its government.