Eight PH Navy Personnel Were Hurt; One Had A Finger Amputated in Ayungin Shoal Incident
AYUNGIN SHOAL INCIDENT – On Monday, while on a rotation and resupply operation to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a Chinese ship attempted to force away their vessels, resulting in at least eight injuries among Philippine Navy sailors.
Contrary to China’s previous assertion that a Philippine ship caused Monday’s collision at Ayungin Shoal, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea attributed the incident to the “illegal, aggressive, and reckless actions” of Chinese maritime forces.
Based on a report from Inquirer, Chinese troops also confiscated firearms from the Navy when they boarded one of the inflatable boats, according to a source. This incident marked the first time China had boarded and searched a Philippine vessel.
At least eight Philippine Navy sailors were injured after Chinese vessels attempted to drive away their ships during a rotation and resupply mission to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday.
During a confrontation with Chinese forces, troops were injured, including one who lost a finger, as their rigid hull inflatable boats were rammed and towed while trying to reach the grounded warship BRP Sierra Madre, according to an anonymous source who lacked authority to speak on the matter.
The source also reported that Chinese troops seized Navy firearms when they boarded one of the inflatable boats. This was the first instance of China boarding and searching a Philippine vessel. The troops were unable to complete the resupply mission, the source added.
In a statement, Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad confirmed that one Navy sailor sustained a “severe injury” from an “intentional high-speed ramming” by the China Coast Guard (CCG) during the resupply mission.
Trinidad did not provide further details but stated that the injured sailor was safely evacuated and received medical treatment.
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