Philippines accuses Chinese boats of ‘dangerous’ actions in high-seas medevac

SpaceWar.com reports: “As two Philippine vessels meet on the high seas to transfer a sick Filipino soldier, China Coast Guard boats shadow, block and bump them, according to video released by the Philippine Coast Guard on Friday.

The incident happened last month during the medical evacuation of a soldier who was stationed on a grounded Philippine Navy vessel, the BRP Sierra Madre, on Second Thomas Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippine Coast Guard said they had deployed a boat on May 19 to retrieve the soldier from a Philippine Navy speedboat, and had informed the China Coast Guard of the ‘humanitarian nature’ of their mission.

In a series of videos released by the Philippine Coast Guard, a Chinese-flagged inflatable speedboat is seen bumping into the two stationary Philippine vessels as they prepare to transfer the patient.

Other boats — identified by the Philippines as belonging to the China Coast Guard — are also seen shadowing and blocking the path of the Philippine Coast Guard boat.

The Chinese boats ‘engaged in dangerous manoeuvres’ and ‘intentionally rammed’ the Philippine Navy vessel, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Jay Tarriela said in a statement…”

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