NEW DELHI: A violent scuffle broke out between Chinese coast guard sailors and Philippine naval vessels near a strategic reef in the South China Sea, a disputed region where Beijing lays claim.
The skirmish occurred on Monday when Philippine forces attempted to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship deliberately grounded atop the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, Manila said.
Philippine military released a clip of the clash late Wednesday which showed small boats carrying Chinese sailors shouting, wiggling knives and using sticks to thrash an inflatable boat as sirens blared.
The Philippines military said the axe-wielding sailor had “threatened to injure” a Filipino soldier, while others were “explicitly threatening to harm” Filipino troops, reported news agency AFP.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the incident, which saw the Chinese coast guard confiscate or destroy Philippine equipment including guns, according to the Philippine military.
However, footage released by China’s state media did not show Beijing forces holding weapons.
Beijing claimed that its coast guard behaved in a “professional and restrained” way during the confrontation and claimed “no direct measures” were taken against Filipino personnel.
“The (Chinese coast guard) personnel then began hurling rocks and other objects at our personnel,” Manila said.
“They also slashed the (inflatable boats), rendering them inoperable.”
The Filipino sailors in brown camouflage with helmets and vests were not seen carrying weapons in the clips.
The skirmish occurred on Monday when Philippine forces attempted to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship deliberately grounded atop the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, Manila said.
Philippine military released a clip of the clash late Wednesday which showed small boats carrying Chinese sailors shouting, wiggling knives and using sticks to thrash an inflatable boat as sirens blared.
The Philippines military said the axe-wielding sailor had “threatened to injure” a Filipino soldier, while others were “explicitly threatening to harm” Filipino troops, reported news agency AFP.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the incident, which saw the Chinese coast guard confiscate or destroy Philippine equipment including guns, according to the Philippine military.
However, footage released by China’s state media did not show Beijing forces holding weapons.
Beijing claimed that its coast guard behaved in a “professional and restrained” way during the confrontation and claimed “no direct measures” were taken against Filipino personnel.
“The (Chinese coast guard) personnel then began hurling rocks and other objects at our personnel,” Manila said.
“They also slashed the (inflatable boats), rendering them inoperable.”
The Filipino sailors in brown camouflage with helmets and vests were not seen carrying weapons in the clips.
“Amidst this violent confrontation, the CCG (Chinese coast guard) also deployed tear gas, intensifying the chaos and confusion, while continuously blaring sirens to further disrupt communication,” the caption said.
In one clip, a voice speaking Tagalog can be heard saying someone had “lost a finger.”
Manila’s demands include the return of seven guns and reparations for any damaged equipment. They are calling for Beijing to address their grievances and restore the looted items.
Philippine military chief general Romeo Brawner said on Wednesday that the outnumbered Filipino crew had been unarmed and had fought with their “bare hands”.