The Philippines has declined US offers of assistance as tensions in the South China Sea have boiled over into violence in the past year. The US, a treaty ally, has offered support but Manila prefers to handle operations on its own, Armed Forces Chief General Romeo Brawner said. China has routinely attempted to block re-supply missions for Filipino troops stationed on a warship grounded on the Second Thomas Shoal. A Filipino sailor lost a finger in the latest June 17 clash that Manila described as “intentional-high speed ramming” by the Chinese coast guard.
