China Central Television (CCTV) recently broadcast a news report about the Philippine military's supply to soldiers stationed on a warship stranded in the East Sea on May 19.
According to Reuters, CCTV said that at least two Philippine soldiers on the ship pointed guns at Chinese coast guard ships.
Tàu chiến của Philippines bị mắc cạn tại Biển Đông
REUTERS
However, Philippine Army Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner on June 4 denied the accusations, affirming that the soldiers acted professionally. He said that Philippine soldiers only held weapons to prepare for self-defense and did not point them at Chinese forces. He criticized the "provocative" actions of the Chinese coast guard for getting very close to the stranded ship.
Philippine military officials said Chinese rigid-hull boats entered at a distance of only 5-10 meters and seized some of the supplies dropped from the air for Philippine soldiers.
On June 4, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately responded, calling the Philippines' actions against the Chinese coast guard illegal.
