In a recent development that has heightened tensions in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive investigation into an incident involving a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and a Philippine resupply boat near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
On Sunday, two collisions occurred at the disputed atoll, known as Ayungin Shoal by Manila. Following the incident, Marcos Jr. directed the PCG to probe the "dangerous, illegal, and reckless maneuvers by vessels of the China Coast Guard," as per a statement released by the PCG on Facebook.
Footage released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) captured the moment when the bow of a CCG ship made brief contact with the stern of a smaller Philippine resupply vessel, named Unaiza May 2, marking the first collision. The PCG reported that during the second collision, its MRRV 4409 vessel was hit by the Chinese Maritime Militia vessel 00003. This vessel was allegedly involved in coordinated actions to obstruct and harass the Philippine vessels en route to resupply Filipino marines stationed at the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Second Thomas Shoal.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTFWPS) strongly condemned the CCG's actions, stating that they violated Philippine sovereignty and displayed a blatant disregard for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
China's foreign ministry responded by stating that a "slight collision" occurred after the Philippine boat supposedly ignored multiple warnings and navigated in an "unprofessional and dangerous manner." The ministry further claimed that two civilian ships and two PCG vessels entered the waters of Ren'ai Jiao (Second Thomas Shoal) in China's Nansha Qundao (Spratly Islands) without China's consent.
Several of the Philippines' allies have voiced their concerns and condemned the incidents. The U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay L. Carlson, expressed strong condemnation of the People's Republic of China's actions, emphasizing U.S. support for Philippine sovereignty. Similarly, the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines and the German ambassador to the Philippines, Andreas Pfaffernoschke, expressed their concerns, urging respect for international laws and the 2016 arbitral award which favored the Philippines. Japan's ambassador to the Philippines, Koshikawa Kazuhiko, also expressed serious concerns, reaffirming Japan's support for the Philippines' position.
On Monday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that it has summoned the Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission to formally protest the incidents. The DFA also expressed gratitude to the international community for their unwavering support of a rules-based international order.
The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint for regional tensions, with Beijing claiming almost the entire sea. These claims were further emphasized in an updated map featuring a 10-dash line. Recent weeks have seen escalating tensions between China and the Philippines, with multiple incidents reported near Second Thomas Shoal, the Scarborough Shoal, and the civilian-occupied Thitu Island.
