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According to the Philippine Military, a Chinese coast guard carrying eight personnel on a boat, approached their vessel BRP Sierra Madre, stationed at Second Thomas Shoal. The Filipino sailors reportedly asked the Chinese personnel to leave peacefully , the officials said that things turned violent when a Chinese guard allegedly hit a Filipino sailor with a wooden baton.
Chinese Guard Attack on Filipino Sailor
The officials also said that the sailor’s injuries are being checked to see if medical evacuation will be needed. This incident was captured on a video by one of the Filipino sailors, Officials stressed that the Philippine Navy crew stayed calm and avoided any actions that might have made the situation worse.
Chinese authorities hasn’t commented yet on the incident. But Beijing has repeatedly claimed Second Thomas Shoal and most of the South China Sea, while still pushing for the removal of the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippine Navy ship that was intentionally grounded there back in 1999 to serve as a military outpost.
The Philippine Department of National Defence condemned the assault and addressed it as an aggressive behavior depicted by the Chinese coast guard. The military said that they will continue doing their job and protect the country’s lawful right in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine name for parts of the South China Sea.
The confrontation comes as Southeast Asian foreign ministers met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss about regional security and ongoing negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea.
This territorial dispute has been going on for years involving both the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Following this Chinese Guard Attack on Filipino Sailor incident more pressure is been added on the ongoing diplomatic efforts, to prevent future confrontations in these contested waters.
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