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By Micah McCartney
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The U.S. State Department has condemned what it called "dangerous" conduct by China's coast guard during a violent encounter with Philippine sailors in the U.S. treaty ally's maritime zone in the South China Sea.
Video footage released by both sides shows a fierce melee between Chinese personnel and Philippine Navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal, situated approximately 120 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan and about 700 miles from China's southernmost province, Hainan.
The Philippines stations a garrison there aboard the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre. One sailor sustained a laceration to his head after Chinese and Philippine personnel exchanged blows with rods and oars, according to Philippine authorities. Each side blames the other for instigating the clash.
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The incident came at a sensitive time for Washington and Beijing's efforts to stabilize ties after years of trade, diplomatic and military tensions. It occurred just a day before Secretary of State Marco Rubio's arrival in Manila for meetings linked to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, will also attend the conference.
If the two meet, their talks are likely to focus on paving the way for a second summit between Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, whom the U.S. leader has invited to Washington in September.
Washington Backs Manila
The U.S. shares a Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines that both the administrations of President Donald Trump and his predecessor Joe Biden have said covers attacks on Philippine forces anywhere in the South China Sea.
The State Department on Monday condemned what it called "China's dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea."
"We stand with our ally, the Philippines, and commend the professionalism and restraint shown by Philippine navy personnel in this incident," department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said. "We reaffirm the July 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling, which found that China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea have no basis in international law."
Earlier this month, the Philippines marked the 10th anniversary of that landmark ruling at The Hague. Citing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected China's claims over features within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone and over much of the South China Sea.
Beijing refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings and maintains the ruling is invalid.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Philippine military, and Philippine coast guard.
Beijing Defends Coast Guard
The two boats the Sierra Madre deployed in response to the Chinese presence approached the Chinese vessel "in a dangerous manner" and "fiercely attacked" coast guard personnel as they were "carrying out normal law enforcement activities to safeguard China's rights" near Second Thomas, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters Tuesday.
The Chinese personnel responded "firmly and lawfully," Lin said. He reiterated Beijing's territorial claim over the shoal and accused Manila of spreading disinformation, adding the ministry had summoned the Philippine ambassador to convey its disapproval.
China also rebuked the U.S. over its support for its Southeast Asian ally following Monday's confrontation.
"The U.S. is not a party to the South China Sea issue, yet it tries every means to stir up tension in the South China Sea, sowing discord and fanning the flames in the region, thereby undermining the joint efforts of regional countries to manage maritime differences," Ji Lingpeng, spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Manila, wrote in a statement Tuesday.
China maintains the Sierra Madre's presence is "illegal" and has repeatedly demanded Manila remove it, but says it will allow the Philippines to continue humanitarian resupply missions to the outpost, provided Manila does not reinforce the rusting warship.
The incident was the most significant face-to-face confrontation between Chinese and Philippine personnel in the South China Sea since the June 2024 clash that occurred as China interfered with a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: John Feng and Tony Phillips
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