The latest clash in the South China Sea saw China’s coast guard using axes and knives, resulting in a Philippine sailor losing his thumb. This incident highlighted Beijing’s aggressive stance towards Manila and its US allies. The Philippines Armed Forces labeled the June 17 actions, which included throwing rocks and puncturing an inflatable craft, as a “brutal assault,” comparing Chinese sailors to pirates. The US State Department condemned China’s actions as “reckless” and a threat to regional peace.
