Philippines says ‘intentional’ ship ramming by China left sailor badly hurt

A Filipino sailor sustained a “severe injury” after the Chinese coastguard intentionally rammed a Philippines vessel in the disputed South China Sea, the country’s military has said.

The incident comes amid heightened tension between Manila and Beijing, with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warning last month that any death of a Philippines citizen caused by a “wilful act” would be considered close to an “act of war”.

The sailor was hurt after an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the Chinese coastguard as the Philippines vessel conducted a resupply mission to Manila’s outpost on the contested Second Thomas Shoal, the Philippine military’s public affairs chief Xerxes Trinidad said on Tuesday.

“The CCG’s continued aggressive behaviour and unprofessional conduct towards a legitimate humanitarian mission is unacceptable,” he said, calling for restraint from China.

The injured sailor was evacuated after the incident, which occurred on Monday, and received prompt medical treatment, Trinidad added.

Beijing on Monday said a Philippines supply ship had deliberately collided with Chinese vessels. Manila described the allegation as “deceptive and misleading”.

China and the Philippines are locked in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea, with confrontation between the two becoming increasingly tense in recent months as Manila has taken a more assertive stance against Beijing’s claims. The Philippines has said it has responded to coercive actions by China, while Beijing has accused Manila of provocation.

China claims a large portion of the South China Sea, including the Second Thomas Shoal, as part of its territory.

A 2016 international arbitration court rejected China’s sweeping claims to the resource-rich waters but Beijing has rejected the ruling.

Chinese coastguard and maritime militia vessels have repeatedly used military-grade lasers and water cannons to disrupt Philippine supply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal, where Manila deliberately grounded a warship in 1999 to assert its claim and which it maintains as an outpost.

Responding to the latest incident, the US, a Philippines ally, condemned “escalatory and irresponsible actions” by China.

It also reiterated that a mutual defence treaty between the US and the Philippines extended to “armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels or aircraft — including those of its coastguard — anywhere in the South China Sea”.