China lodges protest with Philippines after latest clash near Second Thomas Shoal

China has lodged a formal protest with the Philippines, accusing it of initiating an attack on its coastguards following the latest clash between the two sides in the South China Sea. Monday’s clash near the disputed Second Thomas Shoal involved a Chinese coastguard vessel and two Philippine Navy rubber dinghies. The China Coast Guard said the Philippines had “illegally” launched the dinghies from the BRP Sierra Madre – an old warship that was intentionally grounded on the shoal in 1999 –…