The Philippine military has accused China of aggressive and unprovoked interference, alleging that Chinese personnel seized supplies, including food and medicine, that were airdropped to an outpost in the South China Sea last month.
During a press conference, Gen. Romeo Brawner, the commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), showed reporters a video purportedly showcasing Chinese boats intercepting food supplies near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands. The incident reportedly occurred on May 19.
The supplies were intended for Philippine marines stationed on the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded warship in the shoal. Tensions have been escalating between Manila and Beijing over the outpost, with China taking actions to block Philippine Navy resupply missions.
Despite claims by the Chinese that the supplies were construction materials, the AFP condemned the interception as illegal and stated that confiscating another country’s supplies is against the rules, even during wartime.
The incident, which also involved Philippine personnel pointing guns at Chinese vessels, marks a concerning escalation in tensions in the South China Sea, as warned by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a recent address.
Marcos emphasized that any willful killing of a Filipino citizen would be viewed as an act of war, potentially triggering a response in line with the Philippines’ stance on the maritime dispute.