I found this part interesting: ““We were unprepared for that kind of response,” Philippine navy spokesperson Roy Trinidad said in a phone interview on Thursday. “We stuck with the rules of engagement. They were not allowed to use guns except for self defence.””

So China created the conditions for this kind of confrontation by including non-use of guns in confrontations, similar to its border with India. And then proceeds to create this aggression with swords and spears. Philippines was too naive. China is escalating tensions there, taking things to the edge of sparking a hot war without having one.