Extraordinary footage shows the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine Navy clashing with oars and sticks as tensions reached boiling point in the South China Sea. The encounter happened on Monday local time at the Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, 194 kilometres west of the Philippines. The shoal is claimed by China, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the Philipinne Navy maintains a garrison on board a World War II-era ship, the BRP Sierra Madre, that was intentionally grounded on the reef in 1999. But China Coast Guard vessels (part of the Chinese military) often visit the shoal, blocking or monitoring Philippine resupply missions to the garrison. Tensions escalated on Monday when a China Coast Guard boat with eight personnel approached the BRP Sierra Madre and took photos and videos, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Two Philippine Navy boats tried to drive the Chinese vessel away, but the Chinese personnel “reacted violently and aggressively by striking Philippine Navy personnel with a wooden ​baton”.Video of the incident filmed by the AFP from the garrison showed the Chinese boat ramming a smaller Philippine vessel as the opposing crew members swatted at each other with oars. Another clip, filmed by Chinese personnel from their own boat, showed a Philippine vessel crossing the bow as crew on both sides swung their paddles.“We call on the People’s Liberation Army and the China Coast Guard, including their maritime militia, to put a stop to their illegal, coercive, aggressive ​and deceptive actions within the West Philippine Sea and adhere to the 2016 Arbitral Award that affirms the Philippines’ lawful maritime rights under international law,” the AFP said. Manila’s foreign ministry also called the encounter “unacceptable” and an “act of violence”.China’s Coast Guard gave a different version of events, saying the Philipinne boats had ignored repeated warnings and were the first to attack, ramming a Chinese patrol boat in a dangerous manner.“Philippine personnel first used paddles, wooden poles and other implements to aggressively attack Chinese law enforcement officers,” it said.The incident is expected to be front of mind when foreign ministers from the 11-member ​Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their partners, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State ​Marco Rubio, gather ⁠in Manila this week.A similar incident in 2024 saw a Philippine Navy SEAL lose his thumb after his small boat was rammed. This year, the Philipinnes has also accused China of using cyanide around the atoll, warning the substance could be used for “sabotage” against local fish populations.The Foreign Ministry of China rejected the Philippines’ accusations, calling them a “stunt”.Read related topics:China