Manila | President Ferdinand Marcos jnr has warned that the Philippines will not yield to “any foreign power” – but will never instigate a war – after Chinese forces injured his country’s navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats with machetes, axes and hammers in a clash in the disputed South China Sea.

Mr Marcos flew with his top generals and defence chief to the western island province of Palawan on Sunday to meet and award medals to navy personnel who came under assault by the Chinese coast guard as they attempted to deliver food and other supplies to an outpost on the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal last Monday.

AP