MANILA — The Philippines brought the recent confrontation near Ayungin Shoal to the attention of Southeast Asian foreign ministers during the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Retreat on Tuesday, following an incident that left a Philippine Navy sailor injured.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said she personally raised the matter during the closed-door discussions in Pasay City, although fellow foreign ministers refrained from commenting, apparently because diplomatic discussions between the parties involved remain ongoing.
“I was the one who presented it as part of the discussion because everybody has read it. It’s all in the newspapers,” Lazaro told reporters after the retreat.
She noted that the ministers did not respond to her remarks, saying the issue is still under discussion between the concerned governments.
The incident occurred near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, where a Philippine Navy serviceman suffered a head injury after allegedly being struck with a wooden baton by members of the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG).
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), eight CCG personnel aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat deployed from CCG Vessel 21560 approached the BRP Sierra Madre without authorization and began taking photographs and videos of the Philippine military outpost.
The AFP said Philippine forces dispatched two rubber boats to direct the Chinese vessel away in what it described as a measured and non-confrontational manner.
However, the Chinese personnel allegedly responded aggressively, injuring a Navy sailor and damaging one of the Philippine rubber boats operating within waters where Manila asserts sovereign rights under international law.
Beyond the Ayungin incident, Lazaro said ASEAN foreign ministers largely concentrated on ongoing negotiations between ASEAN and China for a long-awaited Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
She said many ministers emphasized the importance of advancing the negotiations as part of efforts to preserve peace and stability in the disputed waterway.
The latest incident has also drawn international attention.
The United States condemned what it described as China’s dangerous and aggressive actions, with US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott calling on Beijing to immediately halt activities that threaten regional peace and security. Washington also commended Philippine Navy personnel for exercising restraint during the encounter.
Japan likewise expressed concern over the incident. Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya said Tokyo supports efforts to uphold a free and open international order anchored on the rule of law.
The European Union also voiced concern, saying it opposes unilateral actions that jeopardize the safety of personnel at sea and undermine regional stability and the rules-based international order.
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