The video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines is disturbing. It shows China Coast Guard personnel allegedly striking Philippine Navy personnel with boat paddles and damaging a Philippine rubber boat during a confrontation near Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Whether it is a firearm, a baton, or a paddle is beside the point. Violence is violence. There is no place for physical assaults in the conduct of maritime law enforcement, especially in disputed waters where restraint is essential to prevent a dangerous escalation.

One Philippine Navy serviceman reportedly suffered a head injury. That alone should concern anyone who believes disagreements between states must be resolved through dialogue and international law—not through physical force.

The Chinese government should not dismiss this incident as another routine maritime encounter. It should conduct a swift, impartial, and transparent investigation into the actions of the China Coast Guard personnel involved.

If it is established that excessive force was used, those responsible should be held accountable and appropriate sanctions imposed.Professional coast guards are expected to exercise discipline, restraint, and respect for human life. Using boat paddles to strike another country’s servicemen falls far short of those standards.

China often speaks of peaceful development and regional stability. Those words carry weight only when matched by actions.

Accountability is not a sign of weakness—it is a mark of responsible leadership.The West Philippine Sea does not need more aggression. It needs cooler heads, respect for international law, and the political will to ensure that confrontations at sea never become tragedies.

No maritime dispute is worth a human life. Peace cannot be built with intimidation, and respect cannot be demanded through force.