Philippines complain about harassment
China's coast guard allegedly rammed medical transport
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To the dismay of the neighboring countries, Beijing claims the South China Sea for itself. Clashes are a recurring problem there. The Philippine coast guard is now accusing China of “barbaric” action against the evacuation of a sick soldier.
According to Philippine sources, the Chinese coast guard has obstructed two ships attempting to evacuate a sick Filipino soldier in the disputed South China Sea. Videos released by the Philippine coast guard show a Chinese-flagged rubber dinghy ramming the two Philippine ships while preparing the medical transport. Other boats, also said to belong to the Chinese coast guard, are blocking the way for the Philippine coast guard.
The incident occurred on May 19. According to Philippine sources, the Chinese coast guard had previously been informed of the “humanitarian nature” of the mission. The Chinese boats had carried out “dangerous maneuvers” and “intentionally rammed” the Philippine Navy ship, said a representative of the Philippine coast guard. “What should have been a simple medical evacuation operation turned into harassment.” The action was “barbaric and inhumane.”
Sick soldier brought to island
The Filipino soldier was eventually loaded onto a Philippine Coast Guard boat and taken to the island of Palawan, where he was treated in a hospital. The authorities did not provide any information about his health condition. The Filipino soldiers involved in the incident were assigned to protect the BRP Sierra Madre. The Philippines deliberately ran the ship aground in 1997 to use it as an army outpost.
When asked, the Chinese embassy in Manila did not initially comment on the incident. China claims practically the entire South China Sea for itself. The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam lay claim to parts of the sea area, which is of enormous strategic and economic importance to the neighboring states.
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson expressed alarm at the behavior of Chinese ships toward Philippine ships in the South China Sea. In his speech at a diplomatic reception in the Philippine capital Manila on Thursday evening (local time), he did not mention China, but it was obvious who he was referring to when he expressed his regret over “repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships.” “These actions endanger human lives, undermine regional stability and international law, and threaten security in the region and beyond,” Jonson said.
