Philippine Navy Personnel Hurt In China Coast Guard Baton Attack

A Philippine Navy personnel stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal was struck and injured in the head by a Chinese coast guard crew who – along with several others – tried to approach and possibly board the grounded vessel on Monday morning, July 20.

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) reported the incident and condemned the “violent and unlawful actions of China Coast Guard personnel against Philippine servicemen lawfully stationed aboard Sierra Madre (LS57) at Ayungin Shoal.”

It said the vessel was within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The NTF did not reveal the identity of the wounded Navy personnel.

The NTF said China Coast Guard vessel with body number 21560 deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) at 9:15 a.m. toward the Sierra Madre.

“Despite repeated instructions from Philippine personnel to leave the area, the Chinese RHIB refused to withdraw and instead escalated the situation. During the incident, a Chinese crew member struck a Philippine serviceman on the head with a wooden baton, causing an injury that required immediate medical attention,” the NTF-WPS said in a statement.

It said the latest act of aggression against personnel performing their lawful duties is “unacceptable and serves only to heighten tensions and increase the risk of dangerous miscalculation at sea.”

“We call on the China Coast Guard to immediately cease dangerous and unlawful actions that threaten lives and undermine peace and stability,” it said.

“Our personnel in the West Philippine Sea will continue to exercise professionalism, restraint and fidelity to international law,” the NTF-WPS said.

“We likewise urge China to uphold its obligations under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and to demonstrate through its actions a genuine commitment to a rules-based maritime order in the West Philippine Sea and the broader South China Sea.”

The Department of National Defense (DND) said the latest incident 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.”

China’s actions, the DND said, “justify the department’s position of disengagement – we simply cannot trust this belligerent neighbor.” It did not elaborate on what “disengagement” meant.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the act of violence against Filipino personnel is “unacceptable.”

In a statement, the DFA said it is coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines regarding the incident.

Reps. Perci Cendaña and Dadah Kiram Ismula of party list Akbayan urged President Marcos to expel Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan. There was no immediate comment from the embassy.

DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro will meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers meeting in Manila this week. — With Delon Porcalla, Helen Flores