On June 17, a clash occurred between Chinese and Philippine ships in the South China Sea, marking an unprecedented escalation in the dispute. The incident involved six Philippine vessels attempting to deliver supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship on Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal, which China calls Renai Jiao. The Chinese Coast Guard took measures to intercept and expel the Philippine vessels, resulting in multiple collisions and close confrontations that were described as the most severe friction in the South China Sea in the past decade by Professor Hu Bo of Peking University's Center for Maritime Strategy Studies. A Filipino sailor was injured in the incident, losing his thumb in a physical scuffle with Chinese personnel.
https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3293073/why-2024-was-most-violent-dangerous-point-philippine-china-ties-and-whats-next?module=top_story&pgtype=section