AFP Details China's Aggression in the West Philippine Sea

On Monday, June 17, the Philippines attempted to conduct a routine supply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, which is about 100 nautical miles away from Palawan. The mission, however, faced aggression from the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG). According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the CCG employed "physical attacks, bladed weapons, blaring sirens, and blinding strobe lights."

“A Philippine Navy personnel sustained severe injury after the CCG’s (China Coast Guard) intentional high-speed ramming during the Rotation and Resupply (RoRe) mission to the BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) at Ayungin Shoal on June 17. The injured personnel has been safely evacuated and received prompt medical treatment,” said the AFP in a statement to media.

The CCG would confirmed that a collision occurred in the waters and that they had boarded a Filipino vessel. The AFP responded by saying that it conducts its missions with the utmost professionalism and commitment to international law.

THREAD | In a brazen act of aggression, the CCG obstructed the AFP's critical humanitarian rotation and resupply operations at BRP Sierra Madre (LS57) in Ayungin Shoal on June 17, employing physical attacks, bladed weapons, blaring sirens, and blinding strobe lights.

— Armed Forces of the Philippines (@TeamAFP) June 19, 2024

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In a series of videos shared by the AFP on social media, the CCG personnel are seen attaching ropes to the RHIB while threatening the AFP soldier. Sirens created confusion and seemed to further compound the hostility. Also seen in the clips is the ramming and brandishing of weapons directed at the troops present. CCG personnel were also throwing rocks at Filipino officials. A Chinese military aircraft appeared in the video, as well.

The tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated over the past five years. The latter refuses to acknowledge the 2016 arbitral ruling under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that affirms the Philippines' 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.