On?Monday, the Philippines accused Chinese coast guards of hitting one of their?navy?staff with a wooden bludgeon in the head during an encounter on the South China Sea. It described the incident as part of China's "clear pattern" of hostile and provocative behaviour.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines released a statement that said a Philippine sailor had been injured and a rubber boat of the navy was damaged at Second Thomas Shoal (also known as Ayungin) in Manila.

According to the AFP, a Chinese Coast Guard rigid hull-inflatable boat with 'eight personnel' approached its grounded warship at Second Thomas Shoal within close proximity and took pictures and videos.

The armed forces said that when two Philippine?navy vessels moved to push the Chinese vessel off, their personnel "reacted violently, and aggressively, by striking Philippine Navy personnel with a wood baton". They also released a video clip of the encounter, lasting 25 seconds.

One of the eight 'terrorists' was seen in the video?hitting the crew of a rubber boat which was near the Chinese vessel.

The?military stated that "we call on the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard to stop their illegal, coercive and aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, and to adhere to the 2016 Arbitral award which affirms the Philippines' legal maritime rights under international laws."

This week, Southeast Asian ministers will meet in Manila for high-level discussions. Wang Yi, the Chinese foreign minister, will also be in attendance. Expect tensions to be raised in the South China Sea.

Manila's Foreign Ministry said that the "act of violent" against its Navy personnel is "unacceptable", and warrants diplomatic action.

The Renai Reef is located 1,300 km from mainland China and lies within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, 200 nautical miles.

The Philippines has accused China for disrupting resupply mission to troops on the grounded vessel. In June 2024, an incident that turned violent resulted in the loss of a Filipino sailor's finger.

Later, the 2024 confrontation led to a "provisional agreement" with China that allowed resupply missions for?the grounded vessel.

China has denied accusations of aggressive conduct during encounters with the Philippines in the South China Sea, and accused them of trespassing on its waters.

Requests for comment were not immediately responded to by the Chinese Embassy in Manila or China's Ministry of Defence.

(source: Reuters)