Philippine Navy personnel and China Coast Guard personnel clash near a grounded Philippine warship at Second Thomas Shoal, in the South China Sea, on Jul 20, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/cnsphoto)
21 Jul 2026 01:55PM
(Updated: 21 Jul 2026 02:08PM)
BEIJING: Beijing said it summoned the Philippine ambassador to China on Tuesday (Jul 21) over an encounter a day earlier between the two countries in the Second Thomas Shoal, according to a statement from its foreign ministry.China and the Philippines traded accusations on Monday after an encounter between their vessels in contested South China Sea waters, with Manila saying one of its navy personnel was struck on the head and Beijing saying Manila provoked the incident."The Philippine side provoked the incident first, yet has turned around and made counter-accusations, distorted the facts and engaged in malicious hype," the Chinese foreign ministry said.The China Coast Guard (CCG) said on Monday two rubber boats sent by the Philippines' grounded vessel BRP Sierra Madre rammed into a Chinese patrol boat in the South China Sea and the Philippine personnel initiated "malicious attacks" against Chinese law enforcement officers by using oars and long sticks.
