The China Coast Guard (CCG) stated that they had permitted the Philippines to evacuate an individual who had fallen ill on a rundown warship stuck on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
The announcement came shortly after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported difficulties from the Chinese side during the medical evacuation at Second Thomas Shoal on Sunday.
PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela shared that two PCG vessels met with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) from the BRP Sierra Madre, the warship deliberately grounded by Manila in 1999.
Despite the presence of CCG vessels, the PCG managed to carry out the evacuation without further interruptions. The sick person received prompt medical attention,” Tarriela explained.
Later, the CCG stated that they monitored the operation but allowed it for humanitarian reasons at the request of the Philippines.
In response, PCG spokesperson Jay Tarriela dismissed the Chinese statement as “ridiculous” and highlighted the ongoing dispute over Second Thomas Shoal.
The tension between Manila and Beijing at Second Thomas Shoal has escalated in recent years, with frequent confrontations over the resupplying of the Sierra Madre.
Despite efforts to de-escalate tensions, both sides continue to exchange heated statements regarding the situation at Second Thomas Shoal.