MANILA - "Probably a misunderstanding or an accident." 

This is how Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin described the recent attack by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine sailors in Ayungin Shoal, in which Chinese sailors rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats, while waving knives and even an axe.

"This was probably a misunderstanding or an accident. We are not yet ready to consider this as an armed attack," Bersamin said in a press conference.

"‘Yung mga nakita natin ay bolo, mga axe. Nothing beyond that," he added.

Asked if the incident would invoke the country's Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, Bersamin said they have not considered it in their discussions.

He said the Philippine government will now announce the schedule of its rotation and reprovision missions to the BRP Sierra Madre at teh Ayungin Shoal. 

"We just don’t know if the reason for this is there was no prior knowledge on the part of China that we were resupplying," he said.

"In the best interest of all parties, I think it was a wise decision for the President to accept our recommendation to publicize our schedule of activities without giving up anything. Wala namang masama doon," Bersamin added.

Earlier this week, the Philippines alleged the Chinese rammed and boarded Filipino navy boats in a violent confrontation in which a Filipino sailor lost a thumb off Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. 

Senate probe on latest Philippines-China sea clash sought

Footage released by the Philippine military late Wednesday showed small boats crewed by Chinese sailors shouting, waving knives and using sticks to hit an inflatable boat as a siren blared.

Monday's incident was the latest in a series of escalating confrontations between Chinese and Philippine ships in recent months as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to the disputed area.

The United States has said that "an armed attack" against Philippine public vessels, aircraft, armed forces and coastguard anywhere in the South China Sea would require it to come to Manila's defense as a treaty ally.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken "emphasized that (China's) actions undermine regional peace and stability" in a call with his Philippine counterpart Enrique A. Manalo on Wednesday, according to the State Department.

Blinken said they also "underscored the United States' ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty".

Gov't urged to convene National Security Council to address China aggression

4 Chinese warships spotted off Balabac Island in Palawan — AFP