A fresh confrontation at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea has left a Philippine Navy marine injured. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported that the sailor sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by personnel from the China Coast Guard (CCG) during an encounter yesterday.
According to the AFP, the incident began when a CCG rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB), part of the vessel CCGV 21560, moved within close range of the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine warship serving as a permanent outpost on the shoal. The CCG boat reportedly circled the area to capture photos and video footage, leading two Philippine Navy rubber boats to intervene in what the military described as a “calmly and non-confrontationally” manner to drive the vessel away.
The situation escalated when Chinese personnel allegedly reacted with violence, striking the Philippine marine with a baton. The injured service member was evacuated to the BRP Sierra Madre for treatment, and the Navy reported that one of their rubber boats also sustained damage. The AFP released photographic and video evidence of the injury and the skirmish, which appeared to show personnel from both sides using oars and batons against one another, while the CCG boat reportedly rammed the Philippine craft.
In response, the AFP condemned the “aggressive actions” of the CCG, labeling them a blatant disregard for safety that endangers personnel and heightens regional tensions. The Department of National Defense further criticized the move as part of a recurring pattern of hostile behavior that diminishes trust. Conversely, the Chinese Embassy in Manila denied the allegations, insisting that the CCG acted with “maximum rationality and restraint” and accusing the Philippines of spreading “false propaganda.” The CCG claimed that two Philippine rubber dinghies had illegally launched from the BRP Sierra Madre, ignored warnings, and rammed a Chinese patrol vessel, forcing their officers to defend themselves.
The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, supported the Chinese account, asserting that videos showed the Philippine side initiating the confrontation. You have reached the limit of 2 free articles this month. These claims occur against the backdrop of the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Award, which ruled that the “nine-dash line” has no legal standing under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and affirmed the shoal as part of the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone. Last week, 14 nations issued a joint statement in support of the ruling, stating that it was “final and legally binding,” and rejecting any “destabilizing” actions in disputed waters. The 27-nation European Union also expressed its support for the award, while China continues to reject the decision as null and void.
This latest incident disrupts a period of relative calm at the shoal, which had seen significant tensions throughout 2023 and 2024, including a violent July 2024 standoff that resulted in multiple injuries. The timing of the clash coincides with a visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to Manila for ASEAN-related meetings, where discussions are expected to prioritize the ongoing maritime disputes.
A still from a video released by the China Coast Guard, showing its personnel confronting Philippine Navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, Jul. 20, 2026. The BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship that functions as the Philippine outpost at the shoal, can be seen in the background.
Handed down 10 years ago this month, the South China Sea Arbitral Award found that China’s expansive “nine-dash line,” which asserts Beijing’s sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, had no standing under UNCLOS, a treaty signed by both nations. It also found that Second Thomas Shoal, which Manila refers to
