The Philippines demanded a payment worth PHP 60 million ($1 million) in damages from China following an altercation in the South China Sea last month.
Philippine military chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner also demanded Thursday (July 4) for the return of the service firearms the Chinese Coast Guard stole from the Philippine Navy special operators and charged Beijing with reconstructing the thumb of an injured Filipino sailor involved in the incident.
State news outlet PNA added that Brawner sent a letter to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro requesting the issuance of the demands to China.
Teodoro said he would transmit the letter to Manila's Department of Foreign Affairs to reach Beijing.
Recap of June 17 Maritime Altercation
The incident happened on June 17, resulting from China's implementation of its claims on the South China Sea, a maritime trade and fishing area that Beijing contests against the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
The incident was just the latest in a series of interventions Chinese ships have made to hinder Filipino fishing boats from entering Scarborough Shoal and resupply boats from providing goods and replacement Philippine Marine Corps personnel to the BRP Sierra Madre. This World War II-era landing ship was intentionally grounded at Second Thomas Shoal.
VCPost additionally reported last month that several business organizations have called for unity and a peaceful resolution to the escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
Marcos Orders Military to De-Escalate Maritime Tensions
Bloomberg and the South China Morning Post reported that Filipino and Chinese diplomats agreed to jointly work on easing the tensions in the South China Sea.
Chinese deputy foreign minister Chen Xiaodong met with Filipino counterpart Ma. Theresa Lazaro at a regular bilateral meeting in Manila Tuesday (July 2) and had "frank and constructive" decisions. A follow-up meeting in Shanghai involving more senior diplomats is expected in January 2025.
Both sides have "affirmed their commitment" to de-escalate the tensions and recognized a "need to restore trust."
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered Brawner and other military personnel to defuse tensions in the South China Sea following the diplomatic meeting.
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