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China

Chinese coast guard blocked medical evacuation, Philippines says: 'barbaric and inhumane'

China deployed hundreds of coast guard ships in the South China Sea as far as 1,000 km off mainland to police 'its jurisdiction'

Reuters
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WATCH: Chinese rubber boat blocks Philippines coast guard in the middle of a medical evacuation Video

WATCH: Chinese rubber boat blocks Philippines coast guard in the middle of a medical evacuation

Chinese vessels harassed and blocked members of the Philippines coast guard who were attempting the medical evacuation of a sick crew member. (Philippine Coast Guard)

The Philippine coast guard on Friday, June 7, accused its Chinese counterpart of blocking efforts to evacuate a sick member of its armed forces in the South China Sea, calling its actions "barbaric and inhumane".

The incident, which the Philippines said took place last month, involved a member of a small contingent of marines posted to guard the BRP Sierra Madre, a Philippine vessel grounded at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the site of repeated confrontations with China this past year.

Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a statement that coast guard and navy boats were harassed by Chinese vessels performing "dangerous maneuvers", despite having informed them the operation was of a medical nature.

PHILIPPINES WARNS OF ‘RED LINE’ WITH BEIJING AMID HEIGHTENED TENSIONS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

China Coast Guard ships monitor the distribution of fuel and food to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition, in the disputed South China Sea on May 16, 2024.

A Philippine boat convoy bearing supplies for Filipino fishers said they ditched plans to sail to a Beijing-held reef off the Philippines after one of their boats was "constantly shadowed" by a Chinese vessel on May 16, 2024. The coast guard then accused its Chinese counterpart of interfering with the medical evacuation of a member of the Philippine coast guard on June 7, 2024. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

China's embassy in the Philippines has acknowledged a request for comment, but did not immediately respond with a statement. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce, and has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels as far as 1,000 km off its mainland to police what it says is its jurisdiction.