Sanaa: The Philippines on Monday accused the China Coast Guard of assaulting a Filipino serviceman during an incident near the disputed Ayungin Shoal in the South China Sea, condemning what it described as 'violent and unlawful actions' against personnel stationed aboard the BRP Sierra Madre.

According to Anadolu Agency, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) stated that the confrontation occurred at around 9.15 am local time (0115GMT), when China Coast Guard vessel 21560 deployed a rigid-hull inflatable boat that approached the BRP Sierra Madre at close range. Philippine personnel reportedly asked the Chinese boat to leave the area, but the crew refused to withdraw, escalating the situation.

The statement detailed that during the encounter, a Chinese crew member struck a Philippine serviceman on the head with a wooden baton, causing an injury that required immediate medical attention. China has not immediately commented on the allegations by Manila.

The NTF-WPS emphasized that the BRP Sierra Madre is stationed at Ayungin Shoal, which Manila claims lies within the nation's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The task force described the incident as an unacceptable act of aggression that increases tensions and the risk of miscalculation at sea.

The Philippines expressed its commitment to resolving disputes peacefully and in accordance with international law while protecting its sovereign rights and jurisdiction. The task force urged the China Coast Guard to cease actions that endanger lives and undermine regional peace. They also called on Beijing to comply with its obligations under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and support a rules-based maritime order in the South China Sea.