The president of the Philippines has declared that his country will not bow down to any foreign power following a clash with Chinese forces in the disputed South China Sea. The incident involved Chinese coast guard personnel injuring Filipino navy personnel and damaging military boats with machetes, axes, and hammers. The confrontation occurred as the Filipino navy attempted to deliver supplies to an outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Palawan to meet and award medals to the navy personnel involved in the altercation. Videos and images released by the military depicted the Chinese coast guard hitting a Philippine navy boat and seizing a bag amidst sirens and strobe lights. China claimed that its actions were in response to Filipino forces entering what it considers its territory, a claim disputed by other claimant governments and international arbitrators.
