- author, Joel Gynt
- role, BBC News
The Philippine military’s top commander said Philippine soldiers fought back with “bare hands” against Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears and knives in the disputed South China Sea.
Gen. Romeo Bronner accused the Chinese vessel of ramming the Philippine ship, boarding it and seizing its weapons.
The general said one Philippine soldier lost a thumb when the boat hit him, but China denied responsibility, saying the soldiers were “in custody.”
The clash is seen as a sign of an escalation in a series of dangerous clashes as the two countries seek to assert their claims over disputed reefs and outcrops.
The skirmish occurred while the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard were delivering supplies to Philippine military forces stationed at Second Thomas Shoal.
Gen. Bronner said soldiers reported seeing Chinese coast guard troops armed with knives, spears and bolos, the Filipino word for sword. He said it was the first time Philippine forces had seen Chinese troops use such weapons in the area.
“The video also shows Chinese troops threatening our troops at knife point,” General Bronner said.
The Chinese personnel also confiscated a number of guns, destroyed items including a motor and poked holes in the rubber boat.
He added that the incident amounted to “an act of piracy.”
“They have no right or legal authority to hijack our operations and destroy Philippine vessels operating within our exclusive economic zone,” General Bronner told reporters.
But China denied the allegations, saying its personnel were trying to block the “illegal transport” of supplies. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing that “no direct measures had been taken” against the Philippine soldiers.
“The law enforcement measures taken by the China Coast Guard at the scene were professional and restrained,” he added.
In an earlier statement, the Chinese coast guard said the Philippines bore “full responsibility” for the incident as its military “ignored China’s repeated and solemn warnings and made an unprofessional and dangerous approach to a Chinese vessel on normal navigation, causing a collision.”
China regularly tries to thwart resupply efforts in the shallow waters, and Philippine officials say China employs “dangerous tactics” such as tracking, jamming, water cannons and lasers to temporarily blind Philippine crews.
Monday’s clash took place at the Philippine military base of Second Thomas Shoal, the epicenter of the maritime standoff where Philippine forces have grounded ageing naval vessels to assert their claim to the area.
A small number of soldiers are stationed there and require regular rations.
Analysts say cutting off supplies to the outpost could cause it to fall into the sea, giving Beijing complete control over the region.
Observers worry that rising tensions in the South China Sea could spark conflict between China and the United States, as China is treaty obligated to come to the defence if the Philippines comes under attack.
But General Bronner said the Philippine military does not want to provoke a war.
“Our aim is to deliver supplies to the troops in accordance with international law but to prevent war,” he said.
