China and the Philippines are locked in a war of words following a maritime encounter that escalated into physical confrontation. Manila reported that a navy personnel was struck with a wooden baton, while Beijing countered, alleging that Philippine vessels instigated the incident by attacking Chinese officers first.

The Philippine military says Chinese coast guard personnel aboard a motorboat repeatedly struck a Filipino sailor on the head with a wooden baton in a disputed shoal in the South…

MANILA: The Philippine military accused the China Coast Guard on Monday of clubbing a Filipino sailor with a baton as they approached a grounded vessel that has long served as a…