The Philippines and China have exchanged formal protests following a confrontation involving their vessels in the South China Sea.
The dispute was raised during a meeting in Manila between Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of East Asia cooperation foreign ministers’ meetings.
Lazaro said she protested China’s actions against Filipino personnel near Ayungin Shoal and objected to imagery shown in a China Daily video. She also emphasized maintaining dialogue, managing tensions, and seeking practical solutions.
China, meanwhile, said Wang protested what it described as Philippine personnel deliberately ramming a Chinese law enforcement vessel near Ren’ai Jiao on July 22, 2026. He also accused outside forces of worsening maritime disputes and claimed some Philippine military and police elements were undermining efforts to improve bilateral ties.
The diplomatic exchange followed a July 22 incident in which the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejected Chinese Coast Guard allegations that Philippine boats intentionally struck one of its patrol vessels near Second Thomas Shoal. The Philippine military called the claims false, saying its personnel acted professionally to direct the Chinese vessel away from BRP Sierra Madre.
The AFP said the Chinese vessel had entered an area where the Philippines asserts sovereign rights, ignored repeated warnings to leave, and escalated the encounter by striking a Filipino sailor with a wooden baton. It added that Philippine troops acted with restraint and within established rules of engagement.