Beijing & Manila summon envoy over South China Sea incident

China and the Philippines summoned each other's envoys after Chinese coast guards and the Philippines navy personnel clashed at the South China Sea's Ren'ai Jiao.

Two rubber boats from the grounded Philippine ship, Sierra Madre, rammed the China Coast Guard patrol boat at around 9a.m. on Monday, despite repeated clear warnings, according to the guardsmen.

They said the Filipinos also maliciously struck Chinese officers with oars, long sticks and other tools.

Coast Guardsmen responded with verbal warnings, vessel manoeuvres and reciprocal countermeasures.

Philippines officials claimed that a sailor suffered head injuries and a rubber boat was damaged during the confrontation.

Coast Guards said China permitted the Philippine side to transfer the injured personnel through small shuttle boats from Sierra Madre.

Chinese foreign ministry called the actions taken by the Philippines during the incident as egregious in nature.

Diplomatic summonses remain uncommon despite repeated maritime confrontations between the Asian neighbours.