A naval officer was injured in an attack by the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea, the Philippines said

Philippines It was announced on Tuesday that A His soldier was seriously injured After the Chinese Coast Guard rammed a Philippine ship near a sandbar Ayungin (The second was Thomas Schollin English), in the South China Sea.

“A Philippine Navy member was seriously injured when a CCG (Chinese Coast Guard) deliberately hit a high-speed ram. Rotation and resupply of BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) on June 17”A military statement said.

A sandbar with a small Philippine garrison Sierra MadreAn old warship is deliberately beached, as a centerpiece Escalation of conflicts Beijing has been intensifying its claims over the disputed territory in recent months between Chinese and Philippine ships.

Shortly after the incident, the Chinese Coast Guard said: A Philippine resupply ship in the area “ignored several solemn warnings from the Chinese side.”

Beijing declared that it “unprofessionally… approached a Chinese ship and caused a collision”, accusing the ship of “illegally breaking up at sea near the Renai Reef”, which China calls the sandbar.

“The Chinese Coast Guard took control measures against the Philippine vessel in accordance with the law,” he added.

But the The Philippine Armed Forces called the Chinese version of events “false”.Condemnation “Being and Illegal Activities of Chinese Ships Within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

Manila's National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea later said Chinese vessels “conducted dangerous maneuvers including ramming and towing.”

“Their actions endangered the lives of our crew and damaged our ships.”

In an update, the Philippine Army said on Tuesday His first casualty in the incidentAdd to that an injured marine member “He was safely evacuated and received immediate medical attention.”

He did not provide details of the sailor's injury and did not comment on the report A sailor lost a finger Chinese personnel also boarded the Philippine ship and seized several weapons and inflatable boats.

He The second was Thomas Scholl It is located 200 kilometers from the western Philippine island Balavan and over 1,000 kilometers from the nearest mainland to China, Hainan Island.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China SeaThe claims of several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, and an international resolution deeming its position to have no legal basis aside.

It employs Coast Guard and other vessels to patrol the waters turned many reefs into militarized artificial islands.

In recent months, it has intensified its operations against Philippine vessels in the area near the Second Thomas Shoal.

This month, Manila accused Chinese ships of illegally seizing food and medicine The plane was flown to the Philippine outpost in the area.

That was the first time Items seizedAccording to the military.

Chinese ship workers Then he threw those things into the waterPhilippine Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

The military said it was not known whether they were from the Coast Guard or the Chinese Navy.

China has advised the Philippines to “stop making trouble”, insisting that the Sierra Madre has illegally shored up the rocks.

The US, for its part, condemned the “irresponsible actions” of the Chinese coast guard after the latest incident.

“The United States stands by its ally, the Philippines, and condemns its reckless actions “Furthermore, the People's Republic of China (PRC) has stepped up efforts to prevent the Philippines from legally delivering humanitarian supplies to service members stationed aboard the PRP Sierra Madre,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.

“Beijing's actions reflect its continued disregard for the Philippines' security.” and for international law in the South China Sea,” he added.

Washington also revealed that China has no legitimate maritime claim to the disputed atoll waters, according to a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

Finally, he pledged that a mutual defense agreement between the United States and the Philippines would include armed attacks against Philippine armed forces, civilian vessels and aircraft in the South China Sea.

(With information from AFP)