Philippines soldiers used their “bare hands” to fight off Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears and knives in the disputed South China Sea, the country’s top military commander has said.

General Romeo Brawner accused Chinese vessels of ramming Philippine boats, then boarding them and seizing weapons.

One Filipino soldier lost a thumb when his vessel was rammed, the general said. China denied its personnel were to blame, saying they had been “restrained”.

There have been a string of dangerous encounters as the two sides seek to enforce their claims on disputed reefs and outcrops - this appears to be an escalation.

  • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    Does China realize that they don’t look tough by doing this? Do you see American Marines beating up Mexican Coast Guard members? No. Because that’s what an insecure country does.

    What is China doing about Israel and Palestine? Nothing, because the current Chinese government only cares about advancing Chinese interests. They are transactional.

  • alchemist2023@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    time someone sunk these Chinese ‘coastguard’ fucks time all countries bordering the south China sea create a floatilla of their own and round up three rouge fishing boats and sink then all game over China

  • naturalgasbad@lemmy.ca
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    5 months ago

    Didn’t China seize firearms from the Filipinos? Talk about bringing knives to a gunfight…