PH counters China’s ‘thief crying stop thief’ claim in Escoda incident

A Chinese boat uses a water cannon directly against a Filipino fishing boat in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal on Dec. 12, 2025. SCREENGRAB FROM PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD VIDEO.

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines on Thursday rejected China’s accusation that Manila provoked tensions in the South China Sea, saying Chinese maritime forces injured Filipino fishermen and disrupted humanitarian assistance during an incident at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal earlier this month.

China’s Ministry of National Defense earlier accused the Philippines of “thief crying stop thief” behavior, claiming that Manila allegedly organized vessels to intrude into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao, known locally as Escoda Shoal. A Chinese defense spokesperson said that Beijing would take “resolute and effective measures” against what it called infringements and provocations.

READ: PH counters China’s ‘thief crying stop thief’ claim in Escoda Shoal incident

In response, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Chinese forces conducted blocking maneuvers, used water cannons against Philippine fishing boats, and also cut their anchor lines. The Dec. 12 harassment left three Filipino fishermen injured and their boats damaged.

The incident involved at least five China Coast Guard ships and several maritime militia vessels, lasting about three hours.

Control measures

“The facts are not distorted. They are documented, timestamped, and corroborated by video recordings, vessel logs, and on-site reporting,” Defense department spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement, citing evidence gathered by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The DND said China’s own coast guard had publicly acknowledged implementing “control measures,” which Manila said amounted to interference with civilian fishing boats and PCG vessels that were providing aid to injured civilians.

“No amount of rhetorical reframing changes the reality that ordinary fishermen were harmed while fishing lawfully within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” the DND statement said, adding that Chinese actions deliberately disrupted humanitarian efforts.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. It maintains that Escoda Shoal is part of its territory and has repeatedly accused the Philippines of trespassing.