MANILA: Philippine forces will defend themselves with "the same level of force” if they come under assault again from China’s coast guard in the disputed South China Sea, where Chinese personnel armed with machetes and spears injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged two of their boats in a chaotic faceoff last month, the Philippine military chief said Thursday (July 4).
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen Romeo Brawner Jr (pic) asked China to pay 60 million pesos (US$1 million) in damages for the two navy boats and return seven rifles which he said were seized by Chinese coast guard personnel during the June17 confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal.
