Video

On June 17, tensions escalated between China and the Philippines at the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed area in the South China Sea. The Philippines refers to it as Ayungin Shoal, where they have purposely run the BRP Sierra Madre aground to serve as a military outpost. China calls it Ren'ai Reef and claims it as well. This incident marked the first time the China Coast Guard boarded a Filipino Navy vessel. During the confrontation, a Filipino military personnel lost his thumb after the China Coast Guard rammed his vessel. Additionally, the China Coast Guard was seen wielding axes and using a knife to puncture one of the Philippine Navy’s inflatable boats. The Philippines condemned these actions as "aggressive," while China maintained that they were justified. Watch our detailed analysis of the incident and its implications. Does China or the Philippines want a war? Is a win-win situation possible?