The accident was caused by an engine explosion on the fishing boat, which resulted in serious injuries to the two fishermen and also nearly sank the boat.
“A CCG vessel quickly arrived at the location of the distressed Philippine fishing boat to carry out a rescue operation by releasing small boats,” a voice-over on the nearly two-minute video clip from the Chinese coastguard said.
The video showed two rigid-hull inflatable boats being deployed from the CCG patrol ship 3105. These approached the sinking boat and officers in uniform on board were shown throwing lifebuoys and life jackets to a person in the water.
But the Philippine Coast Guard rejected the Chinese account of events.
“Despite the interference from the Chinese Coast Guard, the PCG, in close coordination with the Filipino fishermen, managed to outmanoeuvre the [Chinese boats] and successfully transfer the injured fishermen for immediate first aid,” the post said.
Videos posted by Tarriela showed the Philippine coastguard towing away the fishing boat, with the CCG patrol ship and the small boats keeping watch.
The Scarborough Shoal, called Huangyan Island by China and Panatag Shoal by the Philippines, has long been a main focus of maritime disputes between the two sides. Weeks of stand-off in 2012 sparked a diplomatic crisis and the Chinese have since maintained control of the reef.
The dispute was also the trigger for Manila to move a Hague-based tribunal which ruled in its favour in 2016. But Beijing neither participated in the process nor accepted the ruling.
Tensions have escalated again in the past year, as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr boosts the US defence alliance in seeking to counter Beijing’s maritime assertiveness, in a departure from the policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte.
Eight Philippine sailors were injured in the clash, including one who lost a thumb.