Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<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/1784594369318thumbnail-F7m3y2hyWVI-1280x720 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A Philippine Navy personnel sustained a head injury after being struck with a wooden baton by China Coast Guard (CCG) personnel during a confrontation at Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea on Monday, July 20, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said. <em>📷 AFP via Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>WASHINGTON, United States<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Washington on Monday condemned what it called &quot;dangerous and aggressive&quot; action by China, whose personnel are accused of injuring a Filipino sailor at a shoal in the disputed South China Sea.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/ph-navy-officer-sustains-head-injury-after-confrontation-with-china-coast-guard-1605">PH Navy personnel injured after China Coast Guard baton attack at Ayungin Shoal</a></div><p>&quot;The United States condemns China&#x27;s dangerous and aggressive actions against Philippine navy personnel at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on July 20, 2026, and calls on China to immediately cease its destabilizing conduct,&quot; State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;China&#x27;s troubling pattern of provocation against lawful Philippine maritime operations undermines regional peace and stability and directly contradicts China&#x27;s repeated commitments to resolve disputes peacefully,&quot; he added.</p><p>US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton also issued a statement Tuesday condemning China&#x27;s &quot;escalatory actions.&quot; </p><p>&quot;China&#x27;s actions in the South China Sea threaten regional stability and stand in sharp contrast to Philippine forces&#x27; professionalism and discipline. We join the Philippines&#x27; call for China&#x27;s Navy, Coast Guard, and maritime militia to stop their illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions in the South China Sea,&quot; he said.</p><p>The statement came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed Tuesday in Manila to attend foreign ministers&#x27; talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).</p><p>Before departing, Rubio said he was open to the possibility of a sideline meeting with China&#x27;s top diplomat Wang Yi.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/6/19/how-ph-navy-officer-lost-a-finger-during-china-ramming-incident-in-ayungin-1809">How PH Navy officer lost a finger during China ramming incident in Ayungin</a></div><p>The Philippine military has accused the China Coast Guard of clubbing a Filipino sailor with a baton as they approached a grounded vessel that has long served as a Philippine garrison in the disputed waters.</p><p>The Philippines said in a statement a Chinese boat carrying eight men had circled and taken images of the BRP Sierra Madre, which sits on the flashpoint Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly archipelago.</p><p>The clash took place after two rubber boats were sent to drive away the Chinese group, the Philippine statement said.</p><p>China claims almost the entirety of the crucial waterway despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis, and has frequently clashed with Philippine vessels in the area.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></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/F7m3y2hyWVI?&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/VgmFOlv0Zz0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Washington on Monday condemned what it called "dangerous and aggressive" action by China, whose personnel are accused of injuring a Filipino sailor at a shoal in the disputed South China Sea.</p>

Washington on Monday condemned what it called "dangerous and aggressive" action by China, whose personnel are accused of injuring a Filipino sailor at a shoal in the disputed South China Sea.

US slams 'dangerous' China action in sea clash with Philippines navy

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US slams 'dangerous' China action in sea clash with Philippines navy

Agence France-Presse

Published July 21, 2026 08:40 AM PHT

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Updated July 21, 2026 09:37 AM PHT

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