Communist Chinese Fight with Swords; Philippine Soldiers Bare Hands! By John Steele

Communist Chinese coast guards, armed with swords, axes and knives attacked members of the Philippine navy and coast guard, while they were delivering supplies to Filipino soldiers in the disputed South China Sea. The communists boarded the boats, and the Filipinos fought back bravely, unarmed. Why no guns? Because that would make it a clear act of war. The melee weapons keep it below the threshold.

But may I suggest that if this is the way it is going to go, the better melee weapons for the Filipino soldiers to have, are heavy duty sticks, staffs of hard wood about 5 feet, maybe steel capped. The martial arts of the Philippines specialises in stick fighting, in the systems of Eskrima, Arnis and Kali: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_martial_arts,and the communists will get a run for their money. In hand-to-hand combat, from what I have seen of the Filipino warriors in my stay there, the Chinese will get whipped.

https://www.businessinsider.com/philippines-soldiers-bare-hands-fight-armed-china-coast-guard-swords-2024-6

"Filipino soldiers had to defend themselves with bare hands against Chinese coast guard armed with swords and knives, according to the Philippines.

General Romeo Brawner, the Philippines' top military commander, criticized China for what he described as "reckless and aggressive" behavior while the Philippines navy and coast guard were delivering supplies to Filipino soldiers in the disputed South China Sea on Monday.

Chinese coast guard personnel rammed their vessels into boats belonging to the Philippines, and boarded and attacked them, the BBC reported Brawner as saying, leaving some injured and one soldier having lost a thumb.

In a statement posted online, Brawner said: "The Chinese coast guard has no right or legal authority to interfere with our legitimate operations or damage our assets within our Exclusive Economic Zone."

He said the incident "constitutes a blatant violation of international maritime law, Philippine sovereignty, and sovereign rights."

The Filipino army shared photos of the incident, showing damaged boats and Chinese personnel with blades.

Brawner said the Chinese coast guard's actions posed "significant" risks to regional stability, but he added that the Philippines would work with its international partners to try to maintain peace in the region.

China's actions have been condemned by other nations

The encounter is seen as the latest escalation in the disputed waters."