Philippine sailors injured as China boards, intercepts PH boats near Ayungin Shoal

MANILA, June 19 ------ At least eight Philippine Navy sailors were injured after Chinese vessels intercepted a resupply run to the BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

Sources told ABS-CBN News that the China Coast Guard rammed and boarded at least one Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) dispatched by the Philippine Navy to bring supplies to BRP Sierra Madre, resulting in injuries to Philippine sailors, one of whom reportedly lost a finger. China also seized high-powered weapons from the Navy personnel, and reportedly punctured one of the RHIBs. It is yet unclear whether the sailors or the boats have been evacuated from the area, pending a statement from the military. 

The Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have mostly kept mum on the details of this latest incident, except for statements condemning China's actions. “It should now be clear to the international community that China’s actions are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said. 

In news article posted on China Daily, China says it boarded, inspected and drove away Philippine vessels that illegally intruded into waters near Ren'ai Reef, a name it calls Ayungin Shoal. China Coast Guard spokesman Gan Yu said China Coast Guard took control measures in accordance with the law, including issuing warnings, boarding Philippine vessels and conducting inspections, and forcibly driving them away. Gan said the actions by the China Coast Guard were "reasonable, lawful, professional and standardized". 

The report also cited a new administrative law enforcement regulation unilaterally imposed by China this week, that stipulates that foreign vessels illegally entering China's territorial waters or inland waters could be detained with the approval of the head of a city-level or higher coast guard authority. "We once again sternly warn the Philippine side: any form of infringement or provocation is futile," China Daily quoted Gan as saying.  

Source: news.abs-cbn.com