The Philippines has lodged a strong protest with China after accusing the Chinese Coast Guard of injuring three Filipino soldiers during a water cannon assault in the contested South China Sea. Following the incident near the Second Thomas Shoal, Manila’s Department of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning China’s aggressive actions and has also filed a formal complaint through its Beijing mission.
This diplomatic action was prompted by an event reported by the Philippines’ National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano, in which a confrontation with the Chinese Coast Guard not only injured three soldiers but also caused significant damage to the Philippine vessel, Unaizah May 4. The extent of the injuries has not been disclosed, but the injured were treated aboard a coastguard escort.
Tensions have escalated around the Second Thomas Shoal, a frequent flashpoint between Chinese and Philippine vessels, with this incident marking the second attack on the Unaizah May 4 by Chinese water cannons since March. The area, a strategic point in the South China Sea, has been occupied by the Philippines since 1999, despite China’s broad territorial claims, which have been challenged internationally.
China’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a warning against “provocative” Philippine actions, threatening decisive measures to protect its sovereignty and maritime rights. The ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, a crucial maritime corridor, risk broader conflict potentially involving the United States, which has pledged to defend its ally, the Philippines, in the face of armed aggression in the region.–Web Desk