China and Philippines blame each other over South China Sea medical mission
Philippine Coast Guard says Chinese vessels used a water cannon to block an emergency mission for an injured serviceman.
Quick Look
The Philippine Coast Guard accused China of using a water cannon to obstruct the emergency evacuation of an injured Filipino serviceman from the BRP Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal, delaying the mission by nearly 10 hours.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The BRP Sierra Madre is a Philippine naval vessel grounded on Second Thomas Shoal decades ago, serving as an outpost.
The latest exchange centred on the evacuation on Thursday of an injured Filipino serviceman from the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine naval vessel grounded on Second Thomas Shoal decades ago.
Known as Renai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines, the shoal is one of the region’s most contested flashpoints.
The Philippine Coast Guard on Thursday accused China Coast Guard vessels of obstructing the emergency evacuation, including by using a water cannon in an apparent attempt to block a Philippine patrol ship from reaching the shoal to retrieve the injured serviceman.
The incident delayed the mission by nearly 10 hours and forced the Philippine vessel to withdraw for safety reasons, although the water cannon did not hit the ship, according to Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela.
Open Questions
- What is the current medical condition of the injured serviceman?
- Will the Philippines attempt another evacuation soon?
