Chinese coast guard and other forces have used powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine forces, particularly in the Philippines-occupied Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, since last year.
The increasingly hostile confrontations in the shoal and outlying waters have sparked fears they could escalate into a larger conflict that could involve the United States, the longtime treaty ally of the Philippines.
In the worst confrontation, Chinese forces on motorboats repeatedly rammed and then boarded two Philippine navy boats on Jun 17 to prevent Filipino personnel from transferring food and other supplies including firearms to the ship outpost in the shallows of the shoal, according to the Philippine government.
The Chinese seized the Philippine navy boats and damaged them with machetes and improvised spears. They also seized seven M4 rifles, which were packed in cases, and other supplies. The violent faceoff wounded several Filipino navy personnel, including one who lost his thumb, in a chaotic skirmish that was captured in video and photos that were later made public by Philippine officials.
Washington has repeatedly renewed a warning that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine forces come under attack in the South China Sea and outlying waters. But Marcos has said the Philippines would not invoke the treaty due to the Jun 17 violence.
On Sunday, the Philippine government said it had reached a deal with China in the hope of ending confrontations at the Second Thomas Shoal.
The crucial agreement was reached after a series of meetings between Philippine and Chinese diplomats in Manila and exchanges of diplomatic notes that aimed to establish a mutually acceptable arrangement at the shoal without conceding either side’s territorial claims, two Philippine officials told The Associated Press.
Neither side released the text of the agreement, which has been reviewed by top Philippine security officials, who spoke to the AP they said on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss details of the accord publicly.
