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Chinese state media report that Philippine troops targeted coast guards with weapons near the disputed reef in the South China Sea

Theo

At least two soldiers stationed on a stranded Philippine warship on a disputed reef in the southSouth China Sea According to state broadcaster CCTV, he pointed weapons at a Chinese coast guard patrol last month.

A post on CCTV’s social media account “Frontline” on Sunday said the incident occurred near Second Thomas Shoal, which has been at the centre of numerous clashes in recent months.

The post said Manila carried out an airdrop of relief supplies to the “illegally landed” airline Sierra Madre on May 19 and that the Chinese side “responded in accordance with the law.”

The Chinese coast guard footage appears to show at least two men on the ship holding guns and pointing them at the Chinese crew.

The second Thomas Reef, which China calls Renai Jiao and Manila calls Ayungin Reef, lies in the area that Manila claims as part of its exclusive economic zone. To bolster its claim, the island deliberately ran the Sierra Madre, a World War II ship, aground on the rocky outcrop in the late 1990s.

The alleged incident was captured on video shared by Chinese state media on social media. Photo: GCTN
His recent missions to supply the outpost resulted in a series of clashes, including collisions between ships and China uses water cannon against Philippine ships.

Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping said the latest incident reflected the increasing intensity of Philippine “provocations.”

“This does not help to reduce tensions between the two nations,” he said.

“From China’s perspective, we are currently showing great restraint, but restraint has its limits and our patience is running out.”

Collin Koh, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said the garrison stationed on the Sierra Madre was from the Philippine Marine Corps, “and the armed forces on board were no different from rival garrisons around the disputed South China Sea, including those of China.”

He said: “As for the allegation that armed Filipino soldiers at the outpost pointed their firearms at the Chinese, the same has been reported about forces stationed by other parties in the South China Sea.

“What we see here is a back and forth of narratives and counter-narratives that are being used in the current tension between China and the Philippines.

“This CCTV report is part of Beijing’s attempt to regain lost ground in the public debate over its dispute with Manila in the South China Sea.”

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