After China said its coast guard helped rescue two Filipino fishermen near the disputed Scarborough SandbankThe Philippines claims the Chinese thwarted their own rescue attempt.
Saturday’s incident was the latest to pit the rival claimants against South China Sea, after a series of confrontations over the past year, including clashes, the use of water cannons by the Chinese side and their first “entry inspection“two weeks ago, as well as a war of stories.
Video footage from the scene released by both sides on Sunday shows a half-sunken Philippine fishing boat, with the China Coast Guard (CCG) patrol vessel 3105 and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel MRRV 4407 nearby.
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The accident was caused by an engine explosion on the fishing boat, seriously injuring the two fishermen and nearly sinking the boat.
“A CCG ship quickly arrived at the location of the distressed Philippine fishing boat to carry out a rescue operation by releasing small boats,” a voiceover said in the nearly two-minute video clip from the Chinese Coast Guard.
The video showed two rigid-hulled inflatable boats deployed from CCG Patrol Vessel 3105 approaching the sinking boat and uniformed officers on board were shown throwing life preservers and life jackets to a person in the water.
The incident occurred two weeks after Beijing issued a statement new administrative guidelines for its coast guard to deal with violators within what it claims as Chinese territory. The new rules, which came into effect on June 15, establish standard procedures for dealing with foreigners, including a requirement that the entire process be recorded.
But the Philippine Coast Guard rejected the Chinese account of events.
In a post on his X account on Sunday, spokesman Jay Tarriela said the two CCG inflatable boats were in the area “not to assist the PCG, but to thwart and hinder their efforts to rescue the two injured people.” Filipino fishermenwho suffered second-degree burns.”
“Despite the interference of the Chinese Coast Guard, the PCG, in close coordination with the Filipino fishermen, managed to outmaneuver the (Chinese boats) and successfully transfer the injured fishermen for immediate first aid,” the statement said.
Videos posted by Tarriela show the Philippine Coast Guard towing the fishing boat away, while the CCG patrol ship and small boats keep watch.
The Scarborough Shoal, called Huangyan Island by China and Panatag Shoal by the Philippines, has long been a major focus of maritime disputes between the two sides. A weeks-long standoff in 2012 led to a diplomatic crisis, and the Chinese have maintained control of the reef ever since.
The dispute also prompted Manila to turn to a court in The Hague, which ruled in its favor in 2016. However, Beijing did not participate in the process and did not accept the ruling.
Tensions have risen again in the past year as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. bolsters the US defense alliance in an effort to counter Beijing’s maritime assertiveness, a departure from the policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
In the final escalationOn June 17, Chinese coast guard boats intercepted a Philippine Navy resupply mission for troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, another controversial flashpoint, citing the new administrative guidelines.
Eight Filipino sailors were injured in the fight, including one who lost his thumb.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice covering China and Asia for over a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP’s Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright © 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
