Filipino soldiers used their “bare hands” to fight off armed Chinese coastguard in the disputed South China Sea, a Philippine military chief has said.

General Romeo Brawner Jr, head of the Philippine armed forces, accused Chinese personnel of boarding more than eight motorboats and repeatedly ramming, then boarding, two inflatable vessels on Monday.

Comparing the act to piracy, he said the Chinese had bladed weapons and tried to prevent the transfer of food, firearms and other supplies to a Philippine territorial outpost in the disputed area of the Second Thomas Shoal.

Hostilities between the two countries have escalated in and around the shoal – where the Philippines grounded the BRP Sierra Madre ship in 1999 to create the outpost – which is also claimed by Beijing.

Image:
Sirens blared constantly as both sides could be heard yelling at each other in video footage. Pic: Armed forces of the Philippines

This handout photo provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines shows the windshield, communications and navigational equipment on a Philippine Navy Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat allegedly destroyed by the Chinese Coast Guard to prevent Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damage in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
Image:
Damage allegedly caused by the Chinese coastguard. Pic: Armed forces of the Philippines

Footage released by the Philippine military on Wednesday showed the dispute, with Chinese personnel brandishing what appeared to be machetes, knives, axes, hammers and sticks while surrounding two supply boats.

Sirens blared constantly as both sides could be heard yelling at each other. The Chinese appeared to smash the Philippine navy boat with a pole and images showed its side floaters slashed and deflated, and another boat with its windshields and navigational screens shattered.

One Filipino solider lost his right thumb and a number of others were injured as M4 rifles, navigation equipment and other supplies were seized, two Philippine security officials said.

“Only pirates do this. Only pirates board, steal, and destroy ships, equipment, and belongings,” Gen Brawner said.

He demanded the Chinese return all firearms and equipment and “pay for the damage they caused”.

This handout photo provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines shows communications and navigational equipment on a Philippine Navy Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, allegedly destroyed by the Chinese Coast Guard to prevent Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damage in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
Image:
The Philippines has demanded China pays for the alleged damage. Pic: Armed forces of the Philippines

This handout photo provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines shows a Philippine Navy Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, allegedly destroyed by the Chinese Coast Guard to prevent Philippine troops on a resupply mission in the Second Thomas Shoal, at the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. The Philippine military chief demanded Wednesday that China return several rifles and equipment seized by the Chinese coast guard in a disputed shoal and pay for damage in an assault he likened to an act of piracy in the South China Sea. (Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP)
Image:
A damaged Philippine navy inflatable boat. Pic: Armed forces of the Philippines

China blamed the Philippines for the confrontation, saying Filipino personnel “trespassed” into the shoal, ignoring its warnings.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Chinese coastguard took “professional law-enforcement measures”, accusing the Philippines of illegally supplying its vessels.

“No direct measures were taken against the Philippine personnel,” he added.

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The incident prompted the US to renew a warning that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, a treaty ally.

In addition to China and the Philippines – Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have conflicting territorial claims in the waterway.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea – a claim invalidated by an international tribunal in 2016.

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A “brazen act of aggression” by China – Philippines defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro

Mr Teodoro said all out conflict with China is “a big concern” for his country and that they are facing a very “volatile and dynamic situation”.

Beijing’s ultimate aim was to “strangle international commerce and bring the South China Sea under their exclusive control.”

Manila has an “obligation” as a government to “ensure that the Filipino people have the ultimate use and be the ultimate beneficiaries of the economic zone.”

Beijing’s actions near the disputed Scarborough Shoal as part of a campaign of “persistent bullying” bent on “weakening our economy and moral fabric”.

They are a “peace loving people” who wanted to “avoid conflict”, but he would not be drawn on whether his administration has a red line.

Alleged illegal acts by China would be “a violation of our basic law, our constitution” and impossible for “government officials to ignore,” but “the idea of any sort of armed conflict to any Filipino, is really worrisome…We will always try to avoid it.”

The Philippines National Task Force said it will continue supply missions to the shoal “on a regular basis.”

As long as they are “harassed” by China, “these conflicts will continue because these are Filipino fishermen within the EEZ and within traditional fishing areas.”

The US has recently said it will respond if there is a military move against the Philippines by China but Mr Teodoro said: “I wish the whole world was more vociferous in voicing their concern and opposition to what China is illegally doing.”

He believes China has not only “attempted to redefine international law but to also redefine the English dictionary with the word provocation,” the product of a “paranoid mentality brought up by a closed society.”

In January, Manila and Beijing agreed to improve maritime communication through talks, especially regarding the shoal.

Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela described China’s actions as “provocative, unprofessional and inhumane”.

“They serve as a clear indication that humanity has once again allowed barbarism to trample upon compassion, and that what is right is only defined by might,” he wrote on X after the latest clash.