Philippines Continue Military Supply In South China Sea After 'Navy' Incident, China Reminds Not To Provoke

China Coast Guard/PHOTO via Wikimedia Commons

JAKARTA - The Philippine Defense Minister said China used "aggressive and illegal forces" to disrupt supply missions in the South China Sea.

The Philippines said last week's maritime incident, which injured a sailors, was neither a misunderstanding nor an accident.

We do not underestimate the incident, Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro reported by Reuters, Monday, June 24.

A Philippine sailors suffered serious injuries after what the Philippine military described as "deliberately high-speed complaints" by the Chinese Coast Guard, aimed at disrupting a troop supply mission stationed at Second Thomas Shoal on June 17.

The Philippines also described this incident as a pirate act because China's panatai guards carried axes and other sharp objects while boarding the Philippine ship.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies the Philippines' statement. Spokesman said the actions taken by the coast guard were legitimate and professional actions.

We see the latest events in Ayungin not as a misunderstanding or accident. This is a deliberate action by Chinese officials to prevent us from completing our mission, "said Teodoro, using local names for Second Thomas Shoal.

It is the use of aggressive and illegal forces. But we continue to find peaceful solutions to this problem," said Teodoro.

Teodoro said the Philippines would continue to increase its supply of troops stationed on shipships Mangrossed at Second Thomas Shoal.

Responding to Teodoro's statement, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Philippines "must stop its violations and provocations" and "work with China to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea".