The Philippines has accused China of blocking the medical evacuation of a sick member of its armed forces in the South China Sea, calling the actions "barbaric and inhumane." The incident took place last month and involved a member of a small contingent of marines posted to guard a Philippine vessel grounded at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the site of repeated confrontations with China this past year.
The incident, which the Philippines said took place last month, involved a member of a small contingent of marines posted to guard the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine vessel grounded at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the site of repeated confrontations with China this past year.
Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a statement that coast guard and navy boats were harassed by Chinese vessels performing "dangerous maneuvers", despite having informed them the operation was of a medical nature.
"The Chinese vessels dangerously maneuvered and blocked the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy vessels and pointed a 'military-grade laser' light at the BRP Habagat, one of the PCG ships involved in the incident," Tarriela said.
The Philippine Foreign Ministry has summoned China's ambassador to Manila to protest the incident, which it called a "blatant disregard of international law and norms."
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce, and has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels as far as 1,000 km off its mainland to police what it says is its jurisdiction.
The Philippines, along with other Southeast Asian nations, has overlapping claims in the South China Sea and has accused China of bullying and intimidation in the region.
Tensions between the two countries have been rising in recent months, with the Philippines accusing China of increasing its military presence in the area and stepping up harassment of Filipino fishermen and coast guard vessels.
In April, a Philippine boat convoy bearing supplies for Filipino fishers said they ditched plans to sail to a Beijing-held reef off the Philippines after one of their boats was "constantly shadowed" by a Chinese vessel.
The Philippines has warned China that it will not hesitate to defend its territorial waters and has urged Beijing to respect international law.
China's embassy in the Philippines has acknowledged a request for comment, but did not immediately respond with a statement.
