Philippines focusing on strengthening military after "dangerous" moves by China

MANILA: The Philippines defence secretary on Monday that his country is focused on strengthening its military to deter armed attacks, local media reported, in the wake of the ramming incident in the disputed South China Sea of a Philippine vessel by Chinese ships.
A Philippines Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel, the 'BRP Datu Sanday' (MMOV 3002), encountered "aggressive and dangerous manoeuvres" from eight Chinese Coast Guard ships while operating from Hasa-Hasa Shoal to Escoda Shoal," news outlet PNA reported.

The actions of China's vessels aimed to block the Philippine ship's humanitarian mission to resupply Filipino fishermen with diesel, food, and medical supplies, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said.
Both the islands—Hasa-Hasa (Half-Moon) Shoal and the Escoda (Sabina) Shoal—are claimed by the Philippines to be within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

It added that these unprofessional, aggressive, and illegal actions posed serious risks to the safety of the Filipino crew and the fishermen they were meant to serve.
"The BRP Datu Sanday was targeted by the People's Liberation Army Navy ship 626 and multiple China Coast Guard ships, which attempted to encircle and block the humanitarian mission," the task force said.
Philippine authorities alleged that Chinese coast guard vessels also trained their water cannons at 'BRP Datu Sanday', causing its engine to fail.

The Philippine National Task Force, however, dismissed claims that Filipinos fell overboard and were subsequently rescued by the Chinese Coast Guard after the ramming incident. At the House of Representatives, speaker Ferdinand Romualdez expressed alarm over the "increasingly aggressive" actions of China.
"Again, we condemn in the strongest terms these newest reckless and dangerous manoeuvres by the China Coast Guard on our vessels," he was cited by the news outlet PNA.
Philippines Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr was quoted by the PNA news outlet as telling reporters in Manila when asked if the Philippines and its military ally, the United States (US), should discuss whether an armed attack occurred in the latest incident as saying, "You know that is putting