Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Bronner speaks during a press conference following a command meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (not pictured) at military headquarters in Manila, July 4, 2024.
Ted Aljibe | Editorial photo by Getty Images
Philippine military commander Gen. Romeo Bronner Jr. said Thursday that Philippine soldiers would “respond appropriately” and defend themselves against “harassment” by the Chinese coast guard at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.
The warning came after China’s coast guard seized and damaged two Philippine vessels last month while on a resupply voyage to a coral reef outpost, injuring military personnel, Philippine officials said.
Manila alleges that China is trying to disrupt resupply efforts for a Philippine ship that has been anchored at the reef since 1999. Both countries claim the island as theirs, but the ship’s presence has been used to bolster Manila’s maritime claims.
The latest clashes have escalated in violence, with Chinese Coast Guard personnel brandishing knives and axes at Philippine Coast Guard personnel.
“Under the rules of engagement (ROE), one has the right to defend oneself in any way possible. So, for example, if someone attacks us, we will use the same level of force that allows us to defend ourselves,” Bronner said after meeting with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Bronner added that proportionality means that Philippine troops, if attacked with knives, will not resort to excessive force such as gunfire but will use similar weapons to defend themselves.
Beijing appears to be adopting a hostile stance towards Philippine ships in the South China Sea, including using water cannons and ramming vessels.
Bronner also reportedly said that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had ordered his country’s military to try to ease tensions in the South China Sea.
Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo confirmed that the two countries were working to reach an “understanding or possible agreement” over the reef.
The country’s foreign ministry said earlier this week that “significant progress” had been made in developing measures to ease tensions, but “significant differences remain.”
As peace talks continue, the Philippine military is demanding that China return seven firearms seized by the China Coast Guard during the June 2 clash and pay about $1 million in compensation.
Manila is also considering asking China to pay for surgery for a Filipino sailor who lost a thumb on his right hand in a clash with Chinese coast guard officers, Bronner said.
A Beijing spokesman told a news conference on Thursday that the Philippines had conducted illegal and provocative activities inside Chinese territory and should “face the consequences of its actions.”
Experts told CNBC that the recent incidents on the reef have raised concerns that China is pushing the limits of an existing Philippines-U.S. defense pact that commits it to protecting the Philippines from “armed attack,” escalating tensions between the two countries.
But it’s in the best interest of all parties to de-escalate the situation, Rahman Yaacob of the Lowy Institute told CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia.”
The South China Sea is home to many disputed territories, and other countries in the region have grown increasingly concerned about rising tensions.
Philippine state media quoted Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya as saying Japan was closely monitoring the talks between Manila and Beijing and that issues surrounding the South China Sea affect regional peace and stability and are a “legitimate concern” for Japan and the international community.
The Thai government called for “dialogue and diplomacy” in the South China Sea during bilateral talks with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo in Makati on Thursday.
China has disputed Manila’s version of the Second Thomas Shoal incident, with a spokesman saying China had taken necessary measures “to safeguard its sovereignty” and accusing the Philippines of encroaching into Chinese territorial waters.
