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June 2024 Second Thomas Shoal incident

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June 2024 Second Thomas Shoal incident
Part of South China Sea disputes

China Coast Guard personnel (left) brandishing an axe towards a Filipino military personnel
DateJune 17, 2024
05:59 UTC+8[1][2]
Location
Second Thomas Shoal, South China Sea
Belligerents
 Philippines  China
Units involved

Armed Forces of the Philippines

China Coast Guard
Casualties and losses
8 injured[a] None reported

On June 17, 2024, the China Coast Guard interfered with a resupply mission by the Philippine Navy near the Second Thomas Shoal, which is part of the internationally contested Spratly Islands.

Background

Main article: South China Sea dispute

The Second Thomas Shoal is submerged reef is among the maritime features which form part of the Spratly Islands, which is claimed as a territory by several nations including China and the Philippines.[3]

The Philippines has deliberately grounded the BRP Sierra Madre in 1999 in an attempt to enforce its sovereignty claims, which remains a commissioned ship of the Philippine Navy over the feature which it believes to be within its exclusive economic zone. Meanwhile, China virtually claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea.[3]

On June 15, 2024, the China Coast Guard released new guidelines on implementing its 2021 law which authorizes its officers to use lethal means on foreign ships which enter waters China claims. The guidelines allow the detention of non-Chinese on the suspicion of "violating entry-exit laws of China" without formal charge for up to 60 days.[4][5][6]

Incident

Resupply mission

Damage on the interfaced on a ship operated by the Philippine Navy. Photograph was released by the Philippine military.

The Philippines was conducting an operation a rotation and reprovisioning (RORE) mission for its personnel stationed at the Second Thomas Shoal on June 17, 2024, particularly the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) backed by the Philippine Coast Guard under a "limited" role.[7]

The AFP used the civilian vessel ML Lapulapu and the Philippine Navy's rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs).[7][8][1]

The China Coast Guard (CCG) would interfere with the Philippine mission.[9] As per the CCG, it responded when a Philippine supply ship at around 5:59 am "dangerously approached and deliberately collided" with a "normally navigating" Chinese vessel. CCG insists that it has issued multiple "stern warnings" which was ignored.[2]

The Philippines said that China Coast Guard personnel boarded its boats and allegedly damaged the communications and navigational equipment of the boats and took seven firearms.[7] It also said that there is a directive for Filipino personnel on board not to display or use any firearms and therefore fought against Chinese coast guard personnel who are armed with bladed weapons with bare arms.[8]

The ML Lapulapu was reportedly rammed and did not proceed with its intended mission.[1]

China acknowledge that the action of its coast guard marks the first time it conducted an onboard inspection on Philippine vessels.[10]

CCG personnel also reportedly threw rocks at Filipino troops moored near the grounded BRP Sierra Madre.[11]

Eight Filipino personnel reportedly got injured.[11] One of them was noted to have lost a finger.[12]

Rescue mission

The Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Bagacay would retrieve the stalled BRP Cabra at 8:00am but was shadowed by three Hubei Class missile boats by the People's Liberation Army Navy of China. Bagacay would be informed about the damaged RHIBs.[13]

The PCG was notified about the injured Filipino troops at around 10:00 am which were allowed to be brought to the grounded Sierra Madre.[14] The PCG was able to retrieve their damaged RHIBs by 12 noon.[15]

The Philippines attempted to rescue the injured personnel by 10:30 pm.[14] China allowed the Philippines to retrieve the eight injured but insisted that the responding vessels not bring construction materials.[11]

Reaction

China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China insist that the resupply mission of by the Philippines is illegal and that they are actually sending construction materials and weapons to the BRP Sierra Madre contrary to the Philippine claim. It maintained that the action of the China Coast Guard was "professional and restrained" and that the Philippines has provoked China.[9] The China Coast Guard also maintained the same stance in regards to the nature of its conduct.[10]

Philippines

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr. described China's action as a "hijacking" and as "piracy" and demanded reparations. He said that the Filipino personnel involved deserved medals for their valor.[8]

Former Justice Antonio Carpio believes that the incident does not constitute as an "armed attack" that would invoke the Philippines would Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the United States but has acknowledged the incident as an "escalation".[16] As of June 21, there is no discussion on the invocation of the MDT by the Philippine government.[17]

President Bongbong Marcos says that the Philippines is "not in the business to instigate wars" in regards to the South China Sea dispute though he add that his country's declared "calm and peaceful disposition" should not "mistaken for acquiescence".[18] He also conferred the 80 Filipino personnel who took part in the mission, the Order of Lapu-Lapu with the rank of Kamagi.[19]

The PCG also conferred the Distinguished Coast Guard Cross and Ribbon the 70 crew members of the BRP Cabra and Bagacay.[20]

Other countries

The United States reiterates its support to the Philippines through the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). It said that an "armed attack" such as what happened on June 17 could be a basis to invoke the treaty.[21] Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and South Korea, as well as the European Union also issued statements condemning China's actions.[22][23]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Including one losing his right thumb

References

  1. ^ a b c "Philippine Navy faces armed chinese forces with bare hands in Ayungin standoff". Palawan Daily News. June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Jiang, Chenglong (June 17, 2024). "China Coast Guard says Philippines caused collision in South China Sea". China Daily. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Mistreanu, Simina; Gomez, Jim (June 17, 2024). "China blames Philippines for ship collision in South China Sea. Manila calls the report deceptive". AP News. Associated Press. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  4. ^ China Coast Guard. 海警机构行政执法程序规定  [Coast Guard Agency Law Enforcement Procedural Guidelines] (in Chinese) – via Wikisource.
  5. ^ Morales, Neil Jerome; Orr, Bernard (June 18, 2024). "China and Philippines quarrel over South China Sea collision". Reuters. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  6. ^ "China Coast Guard accused of behaving 'like pirates' in South China Sea". Al Jazeera. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Sandongdong, Martin (June 19, 2024). "Gavan: PCG had 'limited' role during the Ayungin resupply mission". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Villaruel, Jauhn Etienne (June 19, 2024). "Knives, looting, severed thumb: Philippines details fresh confrontation with China in Ayungin". ABS-CBN News (in English and Filipino). Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "China Coast Guard's action towards Filipino illegal resupplying professional, restrained: spokesperson-Xinhua". Xinhua. June 19, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Jiang, Chenglong (June 19, 2024). "Coast guard boards Philippine vessels". China Daily. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c de Leon, Dwight (June 21, 2024). "PCG: China's dangerous maneuvers led to 12-hour rescue of injured Filipinos in Ayungin". Rappler. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Santos, Raffy (June 18, 2024). "Philippine sailors injured as China boards, intercepts PH boats near Ayungin Shoal". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rescue of PH crew in Ayungin surrounded, pursued by China vessels". GMA News. June 20, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Piatos, Tiziana Celine (June 22, 2024). "Rescue of injured AFP men took over 12 hours". Daily Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  15. ^ Cervantes, Filane Mikee (June 21, 2024). "PCG: China harassment delayed rescue of AFP personnel in Ayungin". Palawan News. Philippine News Agency. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  16. ^ "China's action during recent resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal sparked Mutual Defense Treaty discussion". News5. June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  17. ^ Mangaluz, Jean; Sarao, Zacarian (June 21, 2024). "Palace on China's aggression at Ayungin: No MDT discussions". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  18. ^ Argosino, Faith (June 23, 2024). "Marcos on West Philippine Sea: 'We're not in the business to instigate wars'". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  19. ^ Argosino, Faith (June 23, 2024). "Marcos awards soldier who lost a finger during an encounter with CCG". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  20. ^ "Mga crew ng BRP Cabra at BRP Bagacay na nagligtas sa mga Pilipinong sundalo na hinarass sa resupply mission, ginawaran ng pagkilala ng PCG" [BRP Cabra and BRP Bagacay crew which rescued Filipino troops harassed during resupply mission, recognized by the PCG]. RMN Networks (in Filipino). June 21, 2024. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Cupin, Bea (June 18, 2024). "US reiterates mutual defense treaty terms after China rams, tows PH ships in Ayungin". Rappler. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Cupin, Bea (June 20, 2024). "Philippines, US discuss China's 'escalatory actions' in Ayungin Shoal". Rappler. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  23. ^ Cupin, Bea (June 17, 2024). "Countries slam China's 'dangerous' acts during Philippines' Ayungin mission". Rappler. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
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