Last year, Chinese and Philippine forces came head-to-head at multiple maritime features throughout the South China Sea in the most serious incidents between the two countries to date, as Beijing more aggressively sought to uphold its territorial claims within Manila’s western exclusive economic zone.
In May, Marines aboard the World War II-era landing ship tank BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) drew their firearms on China Coast Guard small boats raiding airdropped parcels of food. The following month saw a violent clash against an Armed Forces of the Philippines-led resupply mission that resulted in a Philippine Navy Seal losing his thumb and numerous personnel apprehended by Chinese forces.
While tensions subsided following a tentative agreement over resupply at Second Thomas Shoal, a standoff between the two countries took place at Sabina Shoal between April and September following concerns from Manila that Beijing was attempting a land reclamation project at the maritime feature similar to those conducted at Mischief, Subi and Fiery Cross reefs. Philippine Coast Guard flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) maintained Manila’s presence at the shoal against Chinese warships and cutters for five months but was forced to withdraw after running out of supplies, getting rammed by a Chinese cutter and rough seas.
Throughout the year, numerous incidents involving dangerous maritime maneuvers, water cannons, and aerial interceptions also occurred around and above other South China Sea maritime features, including the long-disputed Scarborough Shoal.
“Piracy” at Second Thomas Shoal
“For me, this is piracy already because they boarded our boats illegally [and] they got our equipment,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner following a violent clash in June that saw Chinese forces raid a resupply mission to Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal on June 17.
The incident was the culmination of China’s nearly year-long campaign to deny Philippine forces from accessing the shoal beginning in the late summer of 2023. Beijing cited concerns that Manila was solidifying its position at the shoal through construction efforts that would transform the beached Sierra Madre into a permanently habitable outpost. The China Coast Guard on several occasions intercepted and blocked Philippine resupply missions that China claimed were carrying construction materials.
China’s repeated attempts to stop the Philippine blockade runners also drew international attention from the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada and others, increasing their defense and security cooperation with Manila. It’s unclear whether these efforts are successfully deterring Beijing from aggressive actions in the region. A day before the violent clash, a multinational joint patrol of American, Canadian, Japanese and Philippine naval and air forces aiming d to demonstrate a “commitment to bolster regional security and stability” occurred in the vicinity of Second Thomas Shoal.
Compared to previous resupply attempts, which were publicly highlighted as they were occurring, information access on June 17 was limited during the Philippine-military-led operation. Imagery of the incident released by both countries further confirmed the large amount of Philippine Navy and Marine Corps assets present for the resupply mission, while Philippine Coast Guard statements delineated the agency as acting in a supporting role during the operation.
Several resupply missions, including an airdrop, were blockaded or hampered by Chinese forces prior to the June 17 mission by the Philippine military. Marines on board Sierra Madre drew their firearms as China Coast Guard small boats swarmed airdropped parcels filled with food for the Philippine contingent in one incident on May 19. Brawner said the Marines deployed their weapons as a “precautionary measure” in self-defense.
“It’s part of the rules of engagement. That whenever you see imminent threats coming your way, you best be prepared,” said Brawner about the incident.
A month later, Philippine Navy special forces and Marines were swarmed by the China Coast Guard just off the hull of Sierra Madre on the morning of June 17. Video of the incident released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines revealed a scene of chaos with China Coast Guard officers wielding axes, batons, and other weapons. Chinese forces also used their vessels to corral the Philippine small boats via ramming, causing a Philippine Navy Seal to lose his thumb during the attack. Tear gas and sirens were deployed by the Chinese law enforcement officers as they boarded the Philippine rigid-hulled inflated boats, towing away at least one with its Philippine Navy crew.
China Coast Guard personnel board a Philippine Navy rigid-hulled inflated boat and apprehend its crew on June 17. China Coast Guard photo.
Imagery released by the China Coast Guard shows the captured troops and other Philippine forces being shadowed, including Marine Corps boats and a newly contracted civilian vessel. Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gavan later confirmed that his agency negotiated the release of the Philippine Navy personnel following the incident and that their cutters were located nearby to provide support.
In the days following the incident, the two countries inked out a yet-to-be-released tentative agreement on future Philippine resupply missions to the shoal. Despite this, Beijing and Manila have publicly disputed what the agreement includes, specifically on the inspection of Philippine vessels and providing notification to Chinese forces before their deployment to Second Thomas Shoal. Since the agreement, there have been no major incidents over resupply missions since June 17.
Going into 2025, the agreement publicly appears to have been upheld by both sides. Statements by Philippine military leadership also indicate that if another violent incident were to occur, troops on the ground have the authority to defend themselves.
“I warned our personnel, if this happens again you have the right to defend yourselves,” Brawner told 60 Minutes.
Sabina Shoal Standoff
Philippine Coast Guard personnel aboard agency flagship Teresa Magbanua were stationed for five months at Sabina Shoal amid concerns that Chinese forces would attempt a land reclamation operation at the maritime feature. The standoff from April to September grew to include dozens of China Coast Guard, Maritime Militia and People’s Liberation Army Navy vessels surrounding the agency flagship, becoming a new focal point in the territorial dispute between the two countries.
However, Manila’s concerns about a reclamation project failed to materialize any significant evidence after a civilian research team from the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology released their findings. The team declared that there was not enough evidence to conclude that reclamation activity occurred at the maritime feature, noting that the depressions could have been caused naturally.
While the first few months of the standoff saw the agency’s patrol vessels freely operate within and around Sabina Shoal, Chinese forces increased the pressure in August by challenging any vessel that got close to the maritime feature. Chinese state media also began to claim that the Philippines was attempting an operation similar to the beaching of Sierra Madre at Second Thomas Shoal. Between Aug. 19 and 31, there were four incidents around Sabina Shoal and no Philippine resupply missions reached Teresa Magbanua.
By Aug. 27, the Philippine Coast Guard crew was running out of supplies. While a resupply mission from a helicopter managed to get through on the following day, China Coast Guard white hulls and PLAN tugs entered the shoal in force on the last day of the month. Teresa Magbanua was rammed multiple times, sustaining what the Philippine Coast Guard described as structural damage. Chinese state media also noted that the presence of tugs were an indication that Beijing could “tow away the ship at any time.”
By Sept. 14, the agency’s flagship withdrew from Sabina Shoal due to a lack of food and water, a number of dehydrated personnel that couldn’t be medically evacuated, unattended damages to its hull and a storm moving into the area.
EXCLUSIVE: China Coastguard blocks Filipino fishermen from Sabina (Escoda) Shoal @gmanews @24orasgma pic.twitter.com/qDZKC7LV7y
— Joseph Morong 🇵🇭 (@Joseph_Morong) November 11, 2024
While Manila pledged that it would send another vessel back to Sabina Shoal, no vessel was publicly reported to have entered the disputed maritime feature since then. Both the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy claimed that Sabina Shoal was not lost to Chinese forces because the Filipinos continued to monitor the feature. Despite this, in November a video emerged showing Philippine fishermen attempting to access the shoal and being intercepted by the China Coast Coast.
According to the Financial Times, the 2024 Sabina Shoal Standoff demonstrated to Philippine policymakers that having an extended physical presence at remote South China Sea maritime features was an unsustainable approach due to Chinese overmatch in capabilities.
