Philippine military head was aboard a ship harassed by China. Beijing accuses US of stirring trouble

By JIM GOMEZ
Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The head of the Philippine military says he was with his forces aboard a supply boat when it was blasted with a water cannon, surrounded and shoved by Chinese coast guard ships over the weekend in the disputed South China Sea. China, meanwhile, accused the United States of encouraging its treaty ally the Philippines to provoke China. The heated confrontations underscore China’s determination to assert its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, despite the possibility of fomenting a larger conflict. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that China was escalating its aggression in the contested waters but said it would not deter Filipino forces from defending their territorial interests.