The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejects Chinese Embassy's "deceptive messaging to cover up" the "coercive and aggressive action" of Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) which resulted in the injury of two Filipino soldiers manning BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal on Monday.

A video from the Chinese Embassy claims that China Coast Guard was conducting routine patrols when the two Philippine rubber boats from the ground World War II Philippine Navy vessel allegedly "approached" them "in a dangerous manner".

"The Philippine side also maliciously struck Chinese law enforcement officers with paddles, poles and other tools during the incident," the CCG noted in the video.

In an interview with reporters, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, Retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad emphasized that what was shown in the video released by the Chinese Embassy shows "a spliced or incomplete version of the video".

"If they show the full context of the video that they took, it would be incriminating against them. It would be self-incriminating," he said.

"That was a set-up for them to be able to get a video clip to portray that we were the aggressors," he added.

Rejecting what is called to be false and misleading claims made by the China Coast Guard, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP public affairs office chief stressed that the Philippine Navy personnel "acted with professionalism and in accordance with the Rules of Engagement."

"The key issue remains: Why was a China Coast Guard RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) operating within close proximity of BRP Sierra Madre? Its presence was an unlawful intrusion into an area where the Philippines exercises sovereign rights under international law. The deployment of two rubber boats was a measured, non-confrontational effort to direct the China Coast Guard vessel away. Our personnel did not initiate any confrontation," he said.

"The incident escalated only after the China Coast Guard ignored repeated instructions to leave and engaged in unlawful actions, including striking a Philippine sailor with a wooden baton. Our troops exercised restraint and defended themselves within established rules. Professionalism should not be mistaken for weakness," he added.

The AFP also confirmed that aside from a Navy personnel who suffered from head injury in his head another Filipino soldier sustained bruises in his arm because of the incident.

On Tuesday, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, confirmed the successful medical evacuation of two injured Filipino soldiers from BRP Sierra Madre despite obstruction by China Coast Guard vessels.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has conducted medical evacuation of two injured Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) personnel from Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, despite obstruction by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels.

Acting on the directive of PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan, the PCG immediately deployed BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) to conduct a humanitarian assistance and disaster response mission focused on the medical evacuation of AFP personnel injured during the 20 July 2026 incident at Ayungin Shoal.

"During the Medevac (medical evacuation) operation, CCG vessels were present in the area. CCG rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) were deployed and conducted blocking maneuvers against the PCG vessels, hindering the safe retrieval of the injured personnel. Despite these obstructive actions, PCG personnel remained professional and fully committed to completing the humanitarian mission safely and successfully," the PCG stated.

"One of the injured personnel sustained a lacerated wound in the parietal area secondary to blunt trauma, along with a contusion hematoma on the medial arm. The second injured personnel sustained a lacerated wound on the index finger, also secondary to blunt trauma, with decreased grip strength in the right hand. Both individuals are in stable condition aboard BRP Melchora Aquino," it added.

The military noted that it is the second time that the China Coast Guard approached very close to BRP Sierra Madre reaching around 20 to 30 meters distance from the grounded Philippine Navy vessel.

The first incident was on June 17, 2024 where a Filipino sailor lost his thumb when the China Coast Guard violently obstructed the rotation and resupply mission of the Philippine Navy to the BRP Sierra Madre. Robina Asido/PHS