On July 21, 2026, the United States publicly condemned China's 'dangerous and aggressive' actions in the South China Sea, following an incident where a Philippine sailor was reportedly injured by Chinese forces at the Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The US State Department spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, urged China to immediately halt these destabilizing actions, which undermine peace and stability in the region.

According to reports, the confrontation occurred when the Philippine military accused the Chinese Coast Guard of injuring a Philippine sailor during an encounter at the Second Thomas Shoal. Images released by the Philippine armed forces showed a Chinese vessel approaching the BRP Sierra Madre, an aging warship intentionally grounded at the shoal to serve as a military outpost.

The incident escalated when the Philippines deployed two rubber boats to demand that the Chinese forces leave the area. The Philippines accused the Chinese forces of using violence, claiming that a Chinese officer struck a Philippine sailor with a wooden baton, resulting in injuries and damage to the rubber boats.

In response, the Chinese Coast Guard stated that they had taken 'proportional countermeasures' and issued warnings to the Philippine vessels. They claimed that the Philippine boats had approached their patrol vessel in a dangerous manner, attempting to encircle and ram it.

Beijing has denied the allegations, accusing the Philippines of distorting facts and falsely accusing China. This incident comes amid rising tensions in the South China Sea, particularly regarding territorial disputes and military presence in the region.

The US condemnation coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila for a meeting with ASEAN officials, where he expressed openness to a potential sideline meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who was also attending the summit.