MANILA – Following the June 17 Ayungin Shoal incident, where Chinese Coast Guard personnel confronted Filipino troops with bladed weapons, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. emphasized on Thursday (27 June 2026) that the Philippines needs to take more substantial action beyond diplomatic protests.
Marcos, in a media interview, underscored that the government had already filed protests against the incident, which left one Navy personnel severely injured, making the Philippines’ stance clear to both the Chinese ambassador and Beijing.
“We have stated our position and objections clearly,” Marcos said. “However, simply summoning the ambassador and expressing our displeasure is not enough. We need to take more decisive actions.”
The confrontation involved Chinese vessels ramming a Philippine ship and personnel seizing disassembled rifles while wielding bladed weapons. A Filipino soldier was injured during the altercation.
While Marcos noted that the incident does not qualify as an armed attack due to the absence of firearms, he stressed that it remains a deliberate and illegal action by Chinese forces.
“Even without firearms, the actions taken by the Chinese are illegal,” he added. The incident has drawn widespread international condemnation.
(el Amigo/MNM)
