At least eight Philippine sailors were injured on Monday when the Chinese Coast Guard “searched” a Philippine vessel in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, Philippine media reported on Wednesday.
During a clash between the two countries’ forces in the disputed South China Sea, a member of the armed forces had his finger cut off, the Philippine media outlet Inquirer reported, citing official sources.
The Philippine military confirmed on Tuesday that a navy sailor was “severely injured” after “deliberately ramming at high speed” a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship during a resupply mission.
Philippine officials also claimed that CCG personnel pierced Navy boats with their bolos and also took possession of their weapons.
“We have arms, but we did not use those. We don’t want to start a war,” the media outlet quoted Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. as saying and added their soldiers fought with bare hands to prevent CCG from hitting them.
Chinese Coast Guard personnel on Monday “blocked, boarded and searched” a Philippine vessel that “trespassed” in waters near Ren’ai, a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
In a new escalation, the CCG forcibly removed the vessel from the disputed waters, where it “attempted to send materials to its illegally grounded warship,” the CCG said.
New Rules for Philippine Ships
It was the first incident since the CCG implemented its new rules of engagement in the vast disputed sea on Saturday. Under the new rules, China can detain suspected trespassers for up to 60 days.
The Philippine vessel was on a resupply mission for the grounded World War II warship BRP Sierra Madre on a shoal claimed by both Beijing and Manila.
Beijing accused Manila of “violating” the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, while Manila called China’s claims “deceptive and misleading.”
The two maritime neighbours have conflicting claims to the Second Thomas Shoal – also known as Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May, and Ren’ai Jiao – a submerged reef near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
