A post on Sunday by China Central Television station CCTV’s “Frontline” social media account said the incident happened near Second Thomas Shoal, which has been the center of a number of clashes in recent months.
The post said that on May 19, Manila conducted an airdrop of supplies to the “illegally stranded” Sierra Madre island, and that the Chinese side “responded in accordance with the law.”
China Coast Guard footage showed at least two men on board carrying rifles and pointing them in the direction of the Chinese crew.
Second Thomas Shoal, which China calls Ren’ai Reef and Manila calls Ayungin Reef, is within what Manila claims as its exclusive economic zone. Manila deliberately ran the World War II battleship Sierra Madre on the reef in the late 1990s to bolster its claim.
Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping said the incident reflected intensifying Philippine “provocations.”
“This does absolutely nothing to ease tensions between the two countries,” he said.
“From China’s perspective, we are currently showing great restraint, but there is a limit to restraint and an end to patience.”
Collin Koh, a senior research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies based at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, said the forces stationed on the Sierra Madre were Philippine Marine Corps units and that “the armed personnel on board would be no different to hostile garrisons in any disputed South China Sea area, including China.”
“The accusations that armed Philippine soldiers at the outpost were pointing guns at Chinese troops have been met with similar reports of other militaries in the South China Sea,” he said.
“What we are seeing here is the back and forth of narratives and counter-narratives being used in the current tensions between China and the Philippines.
“The CCTV post is part of Beijing’s attempt to regain lost ground in public opinion over its South China Sea dispute with Manila.”
