8 Filipino Soldiers Injured As A Result Of The Latest Incident With China In The South China Sea

Philippine coast guard ship BRP Bagacay (MRRV-4410). (Wikimedia Commons/Philippine Coast Guard Facebook)

JAKARTA - Eight Filipino soldiers were injured when the Chinese Coast Guard searched a Philippine ship in the disputed waters of the South China Sea (LCS).

During the confrontation between the forces of the two countries at the LCS on Monday (17/6), the finger of a soldier was also cut off, according to local media reports, Inquirer.

On Tuesday (18/6), the Philippine Armed Forces confirmed that a seafarer in his navy suffered a serious injury following a deliberate high-speed collision by the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) against a Philippine ship undergoing a resupply mission.

Philippine officials also claimed that CCG personnel stabbed naval ships using their bolos and then confiscated their weapons.

"We have weapons, but we don't use them. We don't want to start a war," said Philippine Military Commander General Romeo Brawner Jr.

He said the Philippine army fought hand in hand to prevent Chinese troops from attacking them.

On Monday, CCG personnel reportedly stopped, climbed, and searched a Philippine ship deemed to have entered waters near Ren'ai, a coral reef that sank in the Spratly Islands, LCS.

During the new escalation, the CCG said, Chinese troops forcibly expelled the Philippine ship from disputed waters, where the ship attempted to send material to its illegally ran aground warship.

This is the first time since CCG imposed new rules for their operations at the LCS. Based on these new guidelines, China could detain suspected violators for up to 60 days.

The Philippine ship is on a resupply mission to a failed World War II-era warship, BRP Sierra Madre, at a beting claimed by Beijing and Manila.

While Beijing accused Manila of violating International Regulations for Prevention of Collision in the Sea, the Philippines called China's claim "tricking and misleading."

The two maritime neighboring countries have conflicting claims against Second Thomas Shoal also known as Ayungin Shoal, Bai Co May, and Ren'ai Jiao The coral reef that sank in the Spratly Islands at the LCS.