China Coast Guard accuses PH of 'distorting facts,' claims Filipinos struck first

BEIJING — The China Coast Guard said on Monday Philippine personnel "first attacked Chinese law personnel with paddles and sticks" during an encounter in the West Philippine Sea, after Manila accused Chinese personnel of ‌aggressively striking one of its navy staff in the head with a wooden baton.

The Philippine side launched two rubber boats from the BRP Sierra Madre, a warship China said was "illegally grounded" at Ayungin Shoal on Monday morning when a "small China Coast Guard patrol boat" was engaging in routine patrol, China's coast guard said in a statement.

The Philippine rubber boats ignored "repeated and explicit warnings" from the Chinese side and "rapidly approached and encircled and rammed the Chinese patrol boat in a dangerous manner," it said.

In a 49-second video clip released late on Monday by China's state-backed tabloid Global Times, Chinese officers can be heard shouting "This is China Coast Guard, please leave immediately" as personnel from both sides wielded paddles and batons during a confrontation.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, said a Chinese rigid-hull inflatable boat carrying eight men had circled and taken photos and video of the Sierra Madre.

The latest clash took place after two rubber boats were sent to drive them away, the statement said.

"The [Chinese Coast Guard] personnel reacted violently and aggressively by striking a Philippine Navy personnel on the head with a wooden baton, causing injury and damaging the Navy rubber boat," the statement said.

The AFP added it exercised professionalism and acted according to laws, and called on the People's Liberation Army and China Coast Guard to stop their "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions" in the West Philippine Sea.

"These latest aggressive actions and assault by the CCGV demonstrate a blatant disregard for safety, endanger the lives of our personnel and escalates tensions in the West Philippine Sea," the AFP said.

Chinese vessels in the area have attacked Philippine Coast Guard and Navy personnel over the years, including water-cannoning the Philippines' boats on numerous occasions. A high-speed chase of a Philippine boat in August 2025 ended in two Chinese military vessels colliding into one another; and in June 2024, Chinese law enforcement personnel armed with knives, sticks and an axe attacked Filipino troops attempting to resupply troops on the Sierra Madre. One Filipino servicemember lost a thumb in the encounter.

This most recent confrontation comes on the heels of a state-run Chinese media news site posting a "racist" video posted by Chinese state media in which the Philippines was portrayed as a cartoon monkey. China has denied that the video was made by its government. — REUTERS/ with GMA News/BM, GMA News