South China Sea: Manila demands US$1 million in damages from Beijing over June clash
- China’s coastguard punctured Philippine boats and seized firearms during the confrontation that also led to a Filipino sailor losing a finger
The compensation that the Southeast Asian nation is seeking is just for the property damage and does not yet cover the injury to the sailor, Brawner said during a briefing in Manila.
“I demanded the return of seven firearms,” he said, adding the military is looking at the possibility of charging China with the cost of reconstructing the finger of the injured sailor.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijing took enforcement measures to protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea after Philippine provocations.
Meanwhile, Chinese and Philippine diplomats agreed to ease South China Sea tensions but stood firm on their nations’ claims during a meeting on Tuesday.
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro had “frank and constructive” discussions at a regular bilateral meeting on the South China Sea in Manila, according to the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs. A similar meeting among senior diplomats was held in Shanghai in January.