President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has described as “worrisome” the harassment experienced by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner in the hands of Chinese Coast Guard near the Ayungin Shoal.

Brawner told Philippines media on December 11 that he was among the passengers of a supply boat sailing on the contested South China sea when a Chinese coast guard ship blasted it with high pressure water cannon.

The incident has been one of the repeated harassments suffered by Philippine boats that have been trying to deliver supplies to a Philippine navy vessel marooned in the contested Second Thomas Shoal.

While expressing his concern over the incident, Marcos said Brawner’s action was a “proud demonstration of Filipino courage.”

“The recent incidents no less than our AFP chief of staff are worrisome, but it is a proud demonstration of Filipino courage against coercion and our firm resolve to protect, preserve and uphold our territorial integrity,” the chief executive told AFP personnel during its 88th anniversary on Thursday.

Marcos said the Philippine government will continue to “assert its rights” in accordance with the Philippine Constitution and international laws.

“But despite the many attempts at provocation, the Philippines - through the AFP - remains a force and a voice of reason, exemplifying responsible and dignified behavior in resolving issues in accordance with international law,” the commander-in-chief told the AFP.

On Wednesday (December 20), Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines that its miscalculation of the worsening dispute in South China sea will be met with resolute response by his country.

China justified the incident involving Brawner by insisting that the Philipine boat was trespassing in Chinese territory.

“China-Philippines relations are at a crossroads,” Wang told Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo during a call a day earlier.