On this handout picture offered by Armed Forces of the Philippines, Chinese language Coast Guard maintain knives and machetes as they method Philippine troops on a resupply mission within the Second Thomas Shoal on the disputed South China Sea on June 17, 2024. The Philippines mentioned Friday, June 21, 2024, it has no plan to invoke its mutual protection treaty with america after Chinese language coast guard vessels rammed, boarded and used machetes and axes to wreck two Philippine navy boats in a chaotic faceoff that injured Filipino navy personnel at a disputed shoal within the South China Sea. (Armed Forces of the Philippines by way of AP)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The president of the Philippines mentioned Sunday his nation wouldn’t yield to “any overseas energy” after Chinese language forces injured Filipino navy personnel and broken at the least two army boats with machetes, axes and hammers in a conflict within the disputed South China Sea, however added the Philippines would by no means instigate a struggle.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew together with his high generals and protection chief to the western island province of Palawan, which faces the South China Sea, to satisfy and award medals to navy personnel who got here below assault by the Chinese language coast guard Monday as they tried to ship meals and different provides to an outpost on the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal.
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Movies and photos of the chaotic faceoff made public by the army confirmed Chinese language coast guard personnel hitting a Philippine navy boat with a picket bar and seizing a bag whereas blaring sirens and utilizing blinding strobe lights. The Chinese language authorities mentioned that its coast guard needed to take motion after Filipino forces defied warnings to not stray into what China calls its personal offshore territory, a declare lengthy rejected by rival claimant governments and worldwide arbitrators.
The violent confrontation sparked condemnation and alarm from the U.S., the European Union, Japan, Australia and different Western and Asian nations, whereas China and the Philippines blamed one another for instigating it. Marcos’s key advisers mentioned Friday that his administration has no plan to invoke the nation’s mutual protection treaty with america.
“We’re not within the enterprise to instigate wars,” Marcos instructed Filipino forces. “In defending the nation, we keep true to our Filipino nature that we want to settle all these points peacefully.”
In Monday’s faceoff on the shoal, Marcos mentioned “we made a acutely aware and deliberate alternative to stay within the path of peace.” The Filipino navy particular operations group personnel who got here below assault used solely their naked palms to push again the Chinese language, a few of whom pointed knives at them, mentioned Philippine army chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
“We stand agency. Our calm and peaceable disposition shouldn’t be mistaken for acquiescence,” Marcos mentioned. “Historical past itself can inform that we’ve by no means, by no means within the historical past of the Philippines yielded to any overseas energy.”
Chinese language officers in Manila and Beijing didn’t instantly touch upon Marcos’s remarks.
Marcos praised about 80 officers and personnel concerned in Monday’s provide mission, together with one who misplaced his proper thumb throughout the excessive seas confrontation, saying they “exercised the best restraint amidst intense provocation.” He issued an enchantment: “Proceed to meet your obligation of defending the nation with integrity and respect as you’ve gotten accomplished thus far.”
The territorial disputes, which contain China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have lengthy been seen as a flashpoint that would pit the U.S. in opposition to China if excessive seas confrontations escalate into armed battle. Washington has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces are attacked, together with within the South China Sea.
Indonesian forces have additionally opened fireplace on Chinese language fishing boats in previous confrontations in waters off the Natuna islands on the fringes of the South China Sea.
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