South China Sea: Philippine troops accused of cutting Chinese fishing nets near Second Thomas Reef

Video footage accompanying the report shows Filipino soldiers in rubber boats cutting nets and pulling some of them aboard their ships near Second Thomas Shoal.

The Xinhua report claims that Philippine military personnel have damaged more than 2,000 meters of fishing nets and taken more than 100 meters since May 15. It said the Chinese coast guard helped the fishermen recover their damaged nets.

China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, but the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims.

The second Thomas Shoal is one of the disputed areas. A favored fishing spot in the Spratly Island chain, it is known as Renai Jiao in China and Ayungin Shoal in the Philippines.

The shoal is located in the area that the Philippines claims as its exclusive economic zone, but it is also claimed by Beijing. It has become a flashpoint over the past year, with increasingly tense clashes between Chinese coast guards and Philippine ships.

Footage from the Chinese coast guard appears to show at least two men on the stranded warship pointing their rifles at the Chinese crew. A video released by the Philippine military meanwhile shows the Chinese coast guard intercepting supplies that had been dropped near the ship.

“It was just self-defense preparation in case something happened because they were very close,” Brawner said Tuesday, adding that the troops were legally armed.

Philippine military officials told reporters that Chinese coast guard inflatable boats had come within five to ten meters of the Sierra Madre and that coast guard officers had confiscated some of the air-dropped supplies – actions they described as illegal.

China's Foreign Ministry responded that the warship's grounding on Second Thomas Shoal was illegal.

“In addition, the Philippine side has repeatedly violated and provoked, increasing tensions, which is unacceptable to China,” ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“We urge the Philippines to stop creating further friction and return to the path of resolving disputes through dialogue and consultation,” she added.

Manila has taken a more assertive stance toward Beijing on the South China Sea since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president two years ago. The Philippines has also sought to strengthen its military ties with the United States and its regional allies, including by increasing joint exercises – moves that have angered China.