Jamaine Punzalan

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Presidential Communications Office/Facebook

Article (news)

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784612757870746343626_1455252539960801_5509945632290083303_n.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. <em>Presidential Communications Office/Facebook </em></span></span></span> MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned Tuesday the recent baton attack of a Chinese Coast Guard member, which injured one Filipino navy personnel.</div><p>The Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton during a confrontation at Ayunhin Shoal on Monday.</p><p>&quot;Kinukondena po niya, kinukondena po ng Pangulo ang mga ganitong klaseng pangyayari,&quot; Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Tuesday.</p><p>But the Palace said Marcos would maintain the country&#x27;s diplomatic stance on the matter.</p><p>&quot;Hindi po rin ninanais ng Pangulo ang ganitong mga klaseng insidente na siyang nagbibigay ng polisiya na dapat tayo ay tumugon sa mga ganitong klaseng mga insidente through a diplomatic manner. So, hindi po talaga katanggap-tanggap itong nangyayari sa pagitan po ng bansa natin at ng China,&quot; Castro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/defense-chief-china-provocation-at-ayungin-part-of-a-script-1138">Defense chief: Fresh China &#x27;provocation&#x27; at Ayungin part of a &#x27;script&#x27;</a></div><p>The Palace official was also asked if the President was inclined to change his strategy due to China’s aggression.</p><p>&quot;Sa panahon po ngayon ay kailangan pong aralin din ng Pangulo pero hindi po nadadaan sa dahas ang anumang pakikipaglaban sa karapatan,&quot; Castro said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi pinag-uusapan dito ang laki ng iyong teritoryo, ang lakas ng iyong puwersa kung hindi pakikipaglaban sa katotohanan at kung ano ang iyong karapatan,&quot; she added.</p><p>Castro said while Manila cannot control the narrative of China saying Filipino personnel started the aggression, the Palace was standing with Philippine officials’ report.</p><p>&quot;Kung ano po ang kanilang naratibo, ganiyan po ang maaari nilang sabihin – hindi po natin ito saklaw. Pero ang pinaninindigan po natin, kung ano ang karapatan natin at kung ano ang dapat lamang gawin ng ating mga opisyal at mga Filipino personnel pagdating po diyan.  So, sinusuportahan po natin ang mga ginagawa ng ating mga Filipino officials,&quot; she said.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/us-slams-dangerous-china-action-in-sea-clash-with-philippines-navy-0840">US has condemned what it called as &quot;dangerous and aggressive&quot; actions </a>by China.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/australia-raises-concern-over-china-s-sea-actions-boosts-philippine-maritime-capabilities-1032">Australia raises concern over China’s sea actions, boosts Philippine maritime capabilities </a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>CHINA REPLIES </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Chinese Embassy to the Philippines spokesperson Ji Lingpeng &quot;firmly rejects and condemns the baseless accusations made by the US Embassy in Manila&quot;.</p><p>&quot;All facts and evidence show that the Philippines has been the first to commit infringements and provocations, making it the culprit of maritime dangers and the party responsible for undermining regional stability,&quot; it said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue, yet it tries every means to stir up tension in the South China Sea, sowing discord and fanning the flames in the region, thereby undermining the joint efforts of regional countries to manage maritime differences.&quot;</p><p>&quot;We urge the US side to immediately stop maliciously smearing and criticizing China&#x27;s legitimate and lawful rights-protection and law-enforcement actions,&quot; it added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/7/21/myanmar-s-future-mideast-fighting-hang-over-asean-talks-1019">South China Sea rivalry looms over ASEAN meeting </a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mKSHlcFBsN8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F7m3y2hyWVI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned Tuesday the recent baton attack of a Chinese Coast Guard member, which injured one Filipino navy personnel.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr condemned Tuesday the recent baton attack of a Chinese Coast Guard member, which injured one Filipino navy personnel.

Marcos condemns attack on Navy in Ayungin Shoal, but maintains diplomatic stance

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Marcos condemns attack on Navy in Ayungin Shoal, but maintains diplomatic stance

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 01:48 PM PHT

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Updated July 21, 2026 02:43 PM PHT

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Marcos

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China

Ayungin Shoal

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