Chinese sailors wield sticks, axe in disputed sea clash with Philippines

Manila released dramatic new footage of the clash at a strategic reef in the South China on Monday | WATCH

Chinese coast guard personnel appear to wield bladed weapons during an incident off Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Monday. Picture: Armed forces of The Philippines via AFP

Chinese coast guard sailors brandishing weapons including sticks, knives and an axe clashed with Philippine naval vessels near a strategic reef in the South China Sea, dramatic new footage released by Manila showed.

The clash took place on Monday as Philippine forces attempted to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship deliberately grounded atop the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, Manila said.

The clash on Monday off Second Thomas Shoal. Picture: Armed forces of The Philippines via AFP

Fresh footage of the confrontation released late on Wednesday by the Philippine military showed small boats crewed by Chinese sailors shouting, waving knives and using sticks to hit an inflatable boat as a siren blares.

The Philippines military said the axe-wielding sailor had “threatened to injure” a Filipino soldier, while others were “explicitly threatening to harm” Filipino troops.

A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the incident, during which the Chinese coast guard confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment including guns, according to the Philippine military.

Chinese coast guard Zodiacs approach Philippines boats. Picture: Armed forces of The Philippines via AFP

Manila’s footage of the clash stands in stark contrast to photos released by Beijing’s state media on Wednesday, which did not show Chinese forces wielding weapons.

Beijing has insisted that its coast guard behaved in a “professional and restrained” way during the confrontation and claimed “no direct measures” were taken against Filipino personnel.

But in a clip shared by Manila, a Chinese sailor standing on the deck of one of the boats can be clearly seen waving an axe.

Another clip shows a Chinese coast guard sailor violently striking the inflatable boat with a stick. A second man can also be seen stabbing the boat with a knife.

“The (Chinese coast guard) personnel then began hurling rocks and other objects at our personnel,” Manila said.

A Philippines boat is rammed by the Chinese coast hurad. Picture: Armed forces of The Philippines via AFP

“They also slashed the (inflatable boats), rendering them inoperable.”

The Filipino sailors, clad in brown camouflage with helmets and vests, are not carrying weapons in the clips.

“Amidst this violent confrontation, the CCG (Chinese coast guard) also deployed teargas, intensifying the chaos and confusion, while continuously blaring sirens to further disrupt communication,” the caption said.

Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said on Wednesday the outnumbered Filipino crew had been unarmed and had fought with their “bare hands”.

In one clip, a voice speaking Tagalog can be heard saying someone had “lost a finger”.

Manila has accused Beijing of an “act of piracy” against its forces. It has demanded the return of items “looted” by the Chinese side, including seven guns, and reparations for the damaged equipment.

AFP