After China said its coast guard helped rescue two Filipino fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, the Philippines is alleging that the Chinese thwarted China’s rescue attempt.
Saturday’s incident was the latest involving rival sides in the 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 “on-board inspection” two weeks ago, as well as a war of narratives.
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 came two weeks after Beijing issued new administrative guidelines for its coast guard to deal with trespassers on what it claims is Chinese territory. The new rules, which went into effect on June 15, set out 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.
Spokesman Jay Tarriela said in a post on his X account on Sunday that the two CCG inflatable boats were in the area “not to assist the PCG, but to obstruct and hinder their rescue efforts of the two injured Filipino fishermen, who suffered second-degree burns.”
“Despite the interference of the Chinese Coast Guard, the PCG, in close cooperation with the Filipino fishermen, managed to [Chinese boats] and successfully transfer the injured fishermen for immediate first aid,” the message 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 latest escalation, Chinese coast guard boats on June 17 intercepted a Philippine navy resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, another controversial flashpoint. The mission was spearheaded by 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 reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP Facebook page 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.
