04:13Commander and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Romeo S. Brawner reacted to a recent confrontation in the South China Sea involving Filippino and Chinese coast guard vessels, demanding that Beijing 'pay for the damage', during a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday.
"I demanded the return of seven firearms which are inside a box and was confiscated by the Chinese coast guard and they destroyed our belongings and we estimated the coast of the damage. It’s 60 million pesos [around $1 million] and we are demanding that China pay 60 million pesos for the damage," Brawner said.
"We have to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea," he added.
The comments come after the Chinese coast guard entered Filipino vessels armed with machetes and pikes, seizing firearms in an incident at Second Thomas Shoal, also referred ti Ren'ai Jiao, on June 17. One Filipino sailor reportedly lost his finger in the incident.
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions of its coast guard and accused the Philippines of 'provocation'.
"We will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat," the ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news conference.
"They are insisting ...that everything within the 9-dash line belongs to China that is why they bring in their coast guard ships because they say it’s their local waters. And we don’t agree with that. ... If you look at the map, that 9-dash line will infringe our exclusive economic zone and they are restricting our fishermen to fish," Brawner continued.
Earlier this week, China and the Philippines agreed to reduce tensions in the disputed South China Sea after talks in Manila where the sides also considered co-operation between their respective coast guards as well as for scientific purposes.
China asserts control over a large part of the South China Sea, while South East Asian nations including the Philippines also claim parts of the area.
'We must protect our sovereign rights' - Philippines' army chief demands China pay $1 million for coast guard clash amid tensions over South China Sea
Commander and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Romeo S. Brawner reacted to a recent confrontation in the South China Sea involving Filippino and Chinese coast guard vessels, demanding that Beijing 'pay for the damage', during a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday.
"I demanded the return of seven firearms which are inside a box and was confiscated by the Chinese coast guard and they destroyed our belongings and we estimated the coast of the damage. It’s 60 million pesos [around $1 million] and we are demanding that China pay 60 million pesos for the damage," Brawner said.
"We have to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea," he added.
The comments come after the Chinese coast guard entered Filipino vessels armed with machetes and pikes, seizing firearms in an incident at Second Thomas Shoal, also referred ti Ren'ai Jiao, on June 17. One Filipino sailor reportedly lost his finger in the incident.
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions of its coast guard and accused the Philippines of 'provocation'.
"We will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat," the ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news conference.
"They are insisting ...that everything within the 9-dash line belongs to China that is why they bring in their coast guard ships because they say it’s their local waters. And we don’t agree with that. ... If you look at the map, that 9-dash line will infringe our exclusive economic zone and they are restricting our fishermen to fish," Brawner continued.
Earlier this week, China and the Philippines agreed to reduce tensions in the disputed South China Sea after talks in Manila where the sides also considered co-operation between their respective coast guards as well as for scientific purposes.
China asserts control over a large part of the South China Sea, while South East Asian nations including the Philippines also claim parts of the area.
Commander and Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Romeo S. Brawner reacted to a recent confrontation in the South China Sea involving Filippino and Chinese coast guard vessels, demanding that Beijing 'pay for the damage', during a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday.
"I demanded the return of seven firearms which are inside a box and was confiscated by the Chinese coast guard and they destroyed our belongings and we estimated the coast of the damage. It’s 60 million pesos [around $1 million] and we are demanding that China pay 60 million pesos for the damage," Brawner said.
"We have to protect our sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea," he added.
The comments come after the Chinese coast guard entered Filipino vessels armed with machetes and pikes, seizing firearms in an incident at Second Thomas Shoal, also referred ti Ren'ai Jiao, on June 17. One Filipino sailor reportedly lost his finger in the incident.
On Thursday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry defended the actions of its coast guard and accused the Philippines of 'provocation'.
"We will certainly not sit by and watch when our legitimate rights and interests and regional peace and stability are being violated or under threat," the ministry's spokesperson Mao Ning said at a news conference.
"They are insisting ...that everything within the 9-dash line belongs to China that is why they bring in their coast guard ships because they say it’s their local waters. And we don’t agree with that. ... If you look at the map, that 9-dash line will infringe our exclusive economic zone and they are restricting our fishermen to fish," Brawner continued.
Earlier this week, China and the Philippines agreed to reduce tensions in the disputed South China Sea after talks in Manila where the sides also considered co-operation between their respective coast guards as well as for scientific purposes.
China asserts control over a large part of the South China Sea, while South East Asian nations including the Philippines also claim parts of the area.