“Despite facing overwhelming numbers and harassment from the Chinese Coast Guard, Filipino troops valiantly fought back and defended their position. The Armed Forces of the Philippines maintains professionalism and steadfast commitment to uphold international law and preserve peace in the region,” the AFP said in a
statement posted on X on June 19.
The Philippine foreign ministry
denounced the Chinese military’s actions as “illegal and aggressive.”
The ministry expressed a desire for peace and made efforts to create a conducive environment for dialogue and consultation with China on the South China Sea, stating, “This cannot be achieved if China’s words do not align with their actions on the waters.”
The ministry called on China to adhere to international law and respect the sovereignty of the Philippines.
Beijing refuted the accusations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated at a press briefing on June 19 that “The law enforcement measures … were professional and restrained, aimed at stopping the illegal fishing by Philippine ships, and no direct measures were taken against Philippine personnel.”
Canada and the UK condemned the Chinese regime’s actions, while France and Japan expressed concern over the incident.
‘They Acted Like Pirates’
Philippine military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. condemned the actions of the Chinese regime and commended the soldiers while addressing his troops at the headquarters of Western Command on June 19.
“The good thing is that we fought. The Chinese Coast Guard personnel had bladed weapons and our personnel fought with bare hands. That is what’s important. We were outnumbered, and their weapons were unexpected, but our personnel fought with everything that they had,” Gen. Brawner said in a
statement.
He likened the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard to that of pirates. “Only pirates do this. Only pirates board, steal, and destroy ships, equipment, and belongings,” he remarked.
During a briefing on the same day, Gen. Brawner condemned the actions of the Chinese regime. “They have no right or legal authority to hijack our operations and destroy Philippine vessels,” he asserted. “They boarded our boats illegally, they got our equipment, they acted like pirates.”
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) cautioned the Philippines against entering what it claims are its territorial waters and issued new regulations that came into effect on June 15, enforcing a 2021 Chinese law allowing its coast guard to use lethal force against foreign ships in waters it asserts.
The new rules permit the Chinese Coast Guard to detain suspected intruders without trial for 60 days.
The Philippines and China have engaged in disputes over contested territories within Manila’s exclusive economic zone over the past year.
The CCP asserts nearly the entire South China Sea, a crucial route for
over $3 trillion in annual maritime trade. This claim overlaps with territories claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that Beijing’s maritime claims lack a legal basis under international law. However, the CCP disregarded the ruling and continued to assert control in the region.
Reuters contributed to this report.