On Friday (June 7), the Philippine Coast Guard accused the Chinese Coast Guard of obstructing a “medical evacuation” operation in the South China Sea, condemning China’s actions as “barbaric and inhumane.”
According to Reuters, the incident occurred last month and involved a Filipino Marine Corps member guarding the Sierra Madre ship on Second Thomas Shoal (known as Ren’ai Reef in China).
Jay Tarriela, a spokesman for the Philippine Coast Guard, stated on Friday that despite informing the Chinese side that the operation was medical in nature, Filipino Coast Guard and Navy ships were harassed by Chinese vessels during the evacuation of the ill naval personnel.
Tarriela said in a statement, “The barbaric and inhumane behavior displayed by the Chinese Coast Guard has no place in our society.”
He further stated that the Chinese Coast Guard conducted “dangerous maneuvers” and even intentionally collided with a Filipino Navy ship carrying the patient.
“This was supposed to be a simple medical evacuation operation but was harassed by the Chinese,” Tarriela said.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed on Friday that “the Philippines should not use this as an excuse to permanently occupy Ren’ai Reef by sending building materials to their warships.”
Romeo Brawner, a Philippine military official, stated on Tuesday (June 4) that the first attempt to transport the sick soldier for medical treatment to Palawan province on the west side was unsuccessful due to Chinese hindrance.
Brawner said that with the assistance of the Philippine Coast Guard, a second attempt was made the following day, and the evacuation was successful.
The standoff between China and the Philippines in the disputed waters of the South China Sea continues. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and has deployed hundreds of Coast Guard vessels to patrol waters 1000 kilometers away from the mainland.
Last year, there were several disputes near the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone between China and the Philippines. Chinese Coast Guard ships even fired water cannons at Philippine supply ships, causing injuries to Filipino crew members and damage to the vessels.
During the Shangri-La Dialogue last Friday (May 31), Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated in a keynote speech that in the event of a Filipino casualty in the South China Sea conflict with China, it would “almost certainly” cross a red line and be “very close” to what the Philippines defines as an act of war.