Key facts
- China Coast Guard vessels used water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine boats near Scarborough Shoal.
- A Philippine marine was injured by a baton during a confrontation with China Coast Guard personnel near Second Thomas Shoal.
- Philippine and Chinese foreign ministers met but failed to resolve differences over the South China Sea.
- China accused the Philippines of provocation and spreading false propaganda, while the Philippines protested China's actions and an offensive video.
China and the Philippines engaged in a second maritime confrontation this week, with Chinese Coast Guard vessels using water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine boats, escalating tensions despite a meeting between their top diplomats. Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on July 22, but the two officials reaffirmed their differing stances on the South China Sea dispute.
During the meeting, Wang Yi urged the Philippines to cease maritime provocations and criticized external interference, suggesting that domestic forces within the Philippines, particularly in the military and police, deliberately obstruct dialogue. Lazaro, in turn, strongly protested China's actions near Renai Reef and raised concerns about an offensive video posted by Chinese state media depicting Filipinos as monkeys.
Earlier, on July 23, a China Coast Guard vessel fired a water cannon at a Philippine boat for over two minutes near Scarborough Shoal, according to Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela. He also reported that another Chinese ship performed a dangerous maneuver against a Philippine vessel supplying fuel and food to Filipino fishers in the same area.
Separately, the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported that a Philippine Navy marine sustained a head injury after being struck with a baton by China Coast Guard personnel during an encounter near Second Thomas Shoal. The AFP stated that Chinese personnel reacted violently and aggressively after Philippine rubber boats attempted to drive away a Chinese rigid-hull inflatable boat that had unlawfully approached the grounded Philippine warship BRP Sierra Madre. The AFP released photos and videos of the incident, showing personnel from both sides swinging oars and batons. The Chinese Embassy in Manila countered that the CCG acted with restraint and accused the Philippines of spreading false propaganda, claiming Philippine personnel initiated the attack.