China Says Philippine Boats Tried to Surround and Ram Patrol Vessel at Ren’ai Jiao

Dragon Media News Desk

The China Coast Guard has accused two Philippine rubber boats of attempting to surround and ram a Chinese patrol vessel near Ren’ai Jiao in the South China Sea.

According to a statement issued by the China Coast Guard on Monday, a small Chinese vessel was conducting a routine patrol in waters near Ren’ai Jiao at around 9 am.

At that time, two rubber boats were deployed from the Philippine vessel No. 57, which China describes as having been illegally grounded in the area.

The China Coast Guard said the Philippine boats ignored repeated and clear warnings and approached the Chinese patrol vessel at high speed in a dangerous manner.

It said the boats attempted to surround and ram the Chinese vessel.

According to the Chinese statement, Philippine personnel first used paddles, long poles and other objects to attack Chinese law enforcement officers during the encounter.

The China Coast Guard said it responded in accordance with relevant laws and regulations by issuing verbal warnings, manoeuvring its vessel and taking proportionate countermeasures to bring the situation under control.

It maintained that Chinese personnel exercised maximum restraint and acted rationally to prevent the incident from escalating.

China also accused the Philippines of distorting the facts and making false allegations against the Chinese side after the confrontation.

The China Coast Guard urged the Philippines to immediately stop what it described as infringement, provocative actions and the dissemination of false information.

The Philippine armed forces, in a separate account, accused Chinese Coast Guard personnel of striking and injuring one of its sailors with a wooden pole. The complete sequence of the confrontation has not been independently verified, and the claims remain attributed to the respective sides.

Ren’ai Jiao is known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal and internationally as Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippines has used an ageing military vessel grounded there in 1999 as an outpost.

China maintains that Ren’ai Jiao forms part of the Nansha Qundao and says it holds sovereignty over the area.

The China Coast Guard said it would continue law enforcement and rights-protection operations in the Nansha Qundao, including Ren’ai Jiao and adjacent waters.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.

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