US Condemns China’s ‘Dangerous And Aggressive’ Actions After Philippine Sailor Injured In South China Sea Clash

The United States on Monday condemned what it called China’s “dangerous and aggressive” actions against Philippine navy personnel after a confrontation at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea left a Filipino sailor injured.

According to the Philippine military, a Chinese coast guard officer repeatedly struck a Filipino sailor on the head with a wooden baton during the encounter, injuring the sailor and damaging a Philippine navy rubber boat near the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded naval vessel serving as Manila’s outpost at Second Thomas Shoal.

“The United States condemns China’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,” US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.

Pigott said China’s “troubling pattern of provocation” against lawful Philippine maritime operations undermined regional peace and stability and contradicted Beijing’s repeated commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.

“We stand with our Ally, the Philippines,” he said, adding that the United States commended the professionalism and restraint shown by Philippine navy personnel during the incident.

The United States also reaffirmed the July 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling, which found that China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea have no basis in international law. Washington said the ruling is final and legally binding on both China and the Philippines.

According to Manila, the confrontation began when a Chinese inflatable boat carrying eight personnel approached the BRP Sierra Madre, circled the vessel and took photographs.

The Philippines said two navy rubber boats were sent to drive the Chinese boat away, after which the Chinese personnel reacted “violently and aggressively.”

US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton also condemned what he described as China’s “escalatory actions.”

“China’s actions in the South China Sea threaten regional stability and stand in sharp contrast to Philippine forces’ professionalism and discipline. We join the Philippines’ call for China’s Navy, Coast Guard, and maritime militia to stop their illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions in the South China Sea,” Lipton said.

The incident coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s arrival in Manila for ASEAN foreign ministers’ meetings.

Before leaving for the Philippines, Rubio said he was open to meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the gathering.

Second Thomas Shoal has been a frequent flashpoint in the South China Sea, where Chinese and Philippine vessels have been involved in repeated confrontations since 2023.

The reef lies within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone but is also claimed by China, Vietnam and Taiwan.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea despite the 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected its “nine-dash line” and broader historic rights claims.

The two countries are bound by the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which commits them to assist each other in the event of an external armed attack.

References: ndtv, news18