Chinese forces seized two inflatable boats carrying food and other supplies to a military post on a disputed bank in the South China Sea, in a tense confrontation in which some elements of the Philippine navy were wounded, Philippine security authorities said this Tuesday.
The United States warned again Tuesday that it is obligated to defend the Philippines based on a treaty between the two countries, a day after hours-long hostilities in the Ayungin sandbank. The bank has been occupied by a small contingent of the Philippine navy aboard a warship, long detained on land, which has been closely watched by the coast guard and the Chinese navy in a territorial confrontation that has already lasted several years.
There are fears that territorial disputes in the South China Sea could escalate and pit the United States and China into a larger conflict. China and the Philippines blamed each other for Monday’s hostilities, the most serious in recent months, but provided few details.
A Philippine government task force overseeing territorial disputes condemned what it called “dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing” that disrupted an effort to transport food, water and other supplies to Filipino elements at the ship’s territorial post ashore. , the BRP Sierra Madre, in the bank. No further details were given.
Two Filipino security officials, with knowledge of the supply mission at the bank, separately told the agency AP that two inflatable boats, manned by Philippine Navy personnel, approached the BRP Sierra Madre on the bank to provide fresh supplies when Several elements of the Chinese coast guard arrived in speedboats to interrupt the mission, sparking a fight and several collisions.
At least eight of the Filipinos were injured in the brawl, and one of them lost a thumb, said one of the officers, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are under orders not to speak publicly about the confrontation. sea.
Several incidents have occurred in recent months closer to Second Thomas Shoal, which is less than 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the nearest Philippine coast and is where the now rust-encrusted BRP Sierra Madre was deliberately run aground. in 1999 to create a territorial outpost. The ship remains an active military vessel, meaning an attack on it could be considered an act of war by the Philippines.
China has become increasingly firm in its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has caused a growing number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, especially the Philippines and Vietnam.
A new Chinese law that took effect Saturday authorizes its coast guard to seize foreign ships “that illegally enter China’s territorial waters” and detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The law renewed a reference to 2021 legislation that says the Chinese coast guard can fire at foreign ships if necessary.
(With information from AP)
