Philippines says troops held weapons but did not point at Chinese coast guard

By Karen Lema

MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine troops stationed on a warship stranded on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea retained their weapons after Chinese coast guard boats came very close to the ship, but they did not did not point their weapons at them, military officials said Tuesday. .

Philippine Armed Forces Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner disputed the Chinese state's surveillance video account of what happened during a routine resupply mission for Philippine troops on 19 may.

CCTV had reported that at least two Philippine personnel were pointing guns at their coastguards during the standoff at the BRP Sierra Madre, which Manila ran aground on Second Thomas Shoal and garrisoned in 1999.

“It was just self-defense preparation in case something happened because they were very close,” Brawner said at a news conference, calling the Chinese coast guard's actions “provocative.” .

Military officials said Chinese rigid-hull inflatable boats came within five to ten meters of the BRP Sierra Madre and seized some of the supplies airdropped for the troops, actions they called “illegal” and “unacceptable”.

“It was a cause for concern. So our soldiers, as a precaution, held on to their firearms. It's part of the rules of engagement,” Brawner said.

“We deny that any of our soldiers deliberately pointed their weapons at Chinese people… But we will not deny the fact that they were armed,” Brawner said.

Brawner said the BRP Sierra Madre is a vessel commanded by the Philippine Navy and is therefore authorized to hold weapons.

“We have the right to defend ourselves,” Brawner said, adding that the Philippines would continue to assert its sovereignty in the region.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, which includes the Second Thomas Shoal. It has deployed hundreds of vessels to patrol the waterway, including what Manila calls “Chinese maritime militia,” which it says was also present on May 19.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese embassy in Manila.

(Reporting by Karen Lema; editing by John Mair, Martin Petty and Lincoln Feast)