In a separate statement on Tuesday, the CCG said China permitted the Philippine side to transfer the injured personnel through small shuttle boats from the grounded Philippine warship “out of humanitarian consideration”.
“The CCG inquired and verified the Philippine boats, and monitored the whole process,” CCG spokesperson Jiang Lue said, adding China will continue to carry out “rights-protection and law-enforcement operations” in waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, the contested area.
The Philippines embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the CCG and Chinese foreign ministry statements.
The Philippine military on Tuesday called China’s claims “false and misleading”, saying its personnel did not initiate any confrontation.