US condemns China maneuvers vs. PH boats 'which caused bodily injury'

The US has condemned what it called China's "aggressive, dangerous maneuvers near Ayungin Shoal", saying it caused bodily injury, and damaged Philippine vessels.

The statement came after the Philippines and China accused each other of engaging in dangerous maneuvers amid a Philippine resupply mission in the area inside its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a statement on X formerly Twitter, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said, "The US condemns the PRC’s aggressive, dangerous maneuvers near Ayungin Shoal, which caused bodily injury, damaged Philippine vessels, and hindered lawful maritime operations to supply food, water, and essential supplies to personnel within the exclusive economic zone."

"We stand by our allies in support of a #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific," Carlson said.

A Filipino soldier was reportedly hurt during a collision between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the waters adjacent to Ayungin Shoal on Monday morning.

According to Joseph Morong’s 24 Oras report on Monday, a reliable source of GMA Integrated News said a medical evacuation was conducted for the soldier who sustained injuries during an alleged resupply mission. His condition is still being determined.

Maritime security expert Ray Powell said three Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships and 12 maritime militia vessels were deployed in the area. Satellite images, meanwhile, showed a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship also stationed near the Ayungin Shoal.

“It’s down to the southeast, about 20 nautical miles southeast of Ayungin and then just recently in the last couple of hours, it has moved north to where the maritime militia have been,” said Powell. 

He also said the Philippines seemingly used a different strategy for the resupply mission with the PCG vessels not escorting the resupply vessel directly in the area.

“The PCG would come in from the east and escort the resupply vessel directly into Ayungin Shoal. Who exactly is escorting the resupply vessel is not clear from the ship tracks,” the maritime security expert said.

The Philippines' task force on the West Philippine Sea said it was Chinese vessels that engaged in dangerous maneuvers such as "ramming and towing" while Filipino boats conducted a routine rotation and resupply mission at the Ayungin Shoal on Monday.

China earlier on Monday said Philippine and Chinese vessels collided after the Philippine supply boat dangerously approached the Chinese ship.

It also said the Philippine ship illegally intruded into the waters adjacent to the Second Thomas Shoal and ignored China's repeated solemn warnings, the coast guard added in a statement.

The statement made no mention of injuries or damage to either vessel due to the slight collision.

"The People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels engaged in dangerous maneuvers, including ramming and towing," the Philippine task force said in a statement.

"We strongly condemn the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions of the PLA-N, CCG, and CMM. Their actions put at risk the lives of our personnel and damaged our boats, in blatant violation of international law, particularly the United Nations Charter, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2016 Arbitral Award," it added.

The task force said Filipino personnel showed restraint and professionalism, refrained from escalating the tension, and carried on with their mission "despite the illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions by the Chinese maritime forces." —NB, GMA Integrated News