中国海警局が「海賊行為」、おの振り回す フィリピンが動画公開

【マニラＡＦＰ＝時事】フィリピンが実効支配する南シナ海のアユンギン礁（セカンド・トーマス礁）付近で１７日に同国海軍の船舶に中国船が衝突した際、中国海警局の隊員がナイフやおのなどを振り回していたことが、フィリピン側が１９日夜に公開した動画で明らかになった。（写真は、南シナ海のアユンギン礁付近で、フィリピン船〈中央〉に近付く中国海警局の船上で刃物をかざす乗組員〈中央右〉。比軍撮影の動画より）
　フィリピン軍によると、中国海警局はこの衝突の際、銃を含むフィリピン軍の装備を奪取したり破壊したりした。またフィリピン側の乗組員１人が、親指を切断する重傷を負った。
フィリピン軍のロメオ・ブラウナー参謀総長は、同国側は「数で劣る」上に丸腰だったが、「素手」で応戦したと述べた。
　フィリピン軍が公開した動画には、サイレンが鳴り響く中、甲板に立つ中国人船員がおのを振り回す姿がはっきりと映っていた。
　また別の動画では、小型ボートに乗った中国海警局の隊員が棒でゴムボートをたたいたり、別の隊員がゴムボートにナイフを突き刺す場面も映っていた。
　タガログ語で、誰かが「指をやられた」と話す声が聞こえる場面もあった。
　フィリピン軍は兵士１人が、おのを振り回していた中国人船員から「けがをさせると脅された」としている。他の中国人船員からも「危害を加えるという明確な脅し」があり、その後、「中国海警局の隊員が、わが方に向かって石や物を投げ始めた」と説明している。
　動画内で茶色の迷彩服にヘルメットとベストを着用したフィリピン人船員は、武器は所持していなかった。
　対照的に、中国国営メディアが１９日に公開した写真には、中国側が武器を振り回す場面は映っていなかった。
　２０日、フィリピン側の動画について質問された中国外務省の林剣報道官は、「黒と白を混同した、まったくでたらめな非難だ」と反発した。
　フィリピン側は、中国側の行動は「海賊行為」だと非難。さらに銃７丁を含む、中国側が「略奪」した物品の返還と、損傷した装備の損害賠償も求めている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/06/21-18:03）

Chinese coast guard sailors brandished knives, an axe and other weapons in a clash with Philippine naval vessels near a strategic reef in the South China Sea, dramatic new footage released by Manila showed.
The clash took place Monday as Philippine forces attempted to resupply marines stationed on a derelict warship that was deliberately grounded atop the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in 1999 to assert Manila's territorial claims.
It was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the disputed area.
Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said the outnumbered Filipino crew had been unarmed and had fought with their bare hands.
A Filipino sailor lost a thumb in the clash, in which the Chinese coast guard confiscated or destroyed Philippine equipment including guns, according to the Philippine military.
Fresh footage released by the Philippine military late Wednesday showed small boats crewed by Chinese sailors shouting, waving knives and using sticks to hit an inflatable boat as a siren blares.
A voice speaking Tagalog can be heard in one clip saying someone had lost a finger.
Manila's footage of the clash stands in stark contrast to photos released by Beijing's state media on Wednesday, which did not show Chinese forces wielding weapons.
- 'Violent confrontation' -
Asked about the videos on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Manila's comments on the clash were totally bogus accusations that confuse black with white.
He blamed the Philippines for the confrontation, saying they had escalated tensions and accused them of ramming Chinese boats.
Lin said the Philippine boats had been trying to sneak in building materials, but also tried to smuggle in military equipment.
Beijing has insisted that its coast guard behaved in a professional and restrained way and claimed no direct measures were taken against Filipino personnel.
But in a clip shared by Manila, a Chinese sailor standing on the deck of one of the boats can clearly be seen waving an axe.
Another shows a Chinese coast guard sailor striking the inflatable boat with a stick. A second man can also be seen stabbing the boat with a knife.
The Philippines military said an axe-wielding sailor had threatened to injure a Filipino soldier, while others were explicitly threatening to harm Filipino troops.
The (Chinese coast guard) personnel then began hurling rocks and other objects at our personnel, Manila said.
They also slashed the (inflatable boats), rendering them inoperable.
The Filipino sailors, wearing brown camouflage with helmets and vests, are not carrying weapons in the clips.
Amidst this violent confrontation, the CCG (Chinese coast guard) also deployed tear gas, intensifying the chaos and confusion, while continuously blaring sirens to further disrupt communication, the caption said.
Manila has accused Beijing of an act of piracy against its forces.
It has also demanded the return of items looted by the Chinese side, including seven guns, and reparations for damaged equipment.
- 'Perilous' situation -
Analysts say Beijing is escalating confrontations with the Philippines in a bid to push it out of the South China Sea.
Jay Batongbacal, director for the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea in Manila, told AFP that China's forces could be poised to seize the grounded Philippine warship, the Sierra Madre.
The deployment of their forces at present around the Sierra Madre and then the many reefs around the Kalayaan island group is indicative that they're ready to do it, he said, referring to Manila-claimed areas in the Spratly Islands.
The United States has said that an armed attack against Philippine public vessels, aircraft, armed forces and coastguard anywhere in the South China Sea would require it to come to Manila's defence as a treaty ally.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that (China's) actions undermine regional peace and stability in a call with his Philippine counterpart Enrique A. Manalo on Wednesday, according to the State Department.
Blinken said they also underscored the United States' ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty.
Another analyst said the clashes brought us perilously close to a point where the United States would be required to intervene militarily.
The Philippines will likely need to continue resupply missions to the Sierra Madre, one way or another, said Duan Dang, a Vietnam-based maritime security analyst.
Backing down and accepting Beijing's terms regarding these operations would mean relinquishing sovereign rights within its Exclusive Economic Zone, he said.
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