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South China Sea: Philippines’ Marcos vows to counter Chinese ‘attacks’, says Manila is not going to be ‘intimidated into silence’

Philippines President will implement proportionate and reasonable countermeasures against “illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attacks” by China’s coast guard and maritime militia within the South China Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr he said on Thursday.
“We don’t seek conflict with any nation, especially with nations that claim to be our friends and claim to be our friends, but we is not going to be intimidated into silence, submission or servility,” Marcos said in this system Facebook.

He didn’t specify what the remedial measures would come with.

No Imminent Risk of War with Manila within the South China Sea: Beijing’s Advisory Team

Last yr, the Philippines became furious over what it calls repeated aggression by China’s coast guard and allied fishing vessels near disputed facilities in Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The most up-to-date flare-up occurred last week when China used a water cannon to disrupt one other Philippine mission to resupply the second Thomas Shoal for troops sent to guard a warship that deliberately ran aground on the reef 25 years ago.
China, which takes up just about all of it South China Sea as its own, accused the Philippines of encroaching on its territory and claims to have taken the crucial measures against the ships.

China warned the Philippines on Monday to tread rigorously and pursue dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as confrontations between coast guards over maritime claims worsened tensions.

Marcos said he has met along with his defense and security officials and is involved with “friends within the international community.”

“They have offered us assistance with the requirements of the Philippines to protect and secure our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” Marcos said.

The Philippine side’s provocations are the direct explanation for the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue

Statement by Beijing’s Ministry of Defense

China on Thursday blamed the Philippines’ actions for the recent increase in tensions.

“The Philippine side’s provocations are the direct explanation for the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue,” Beijing’s defense ministry said in an announcement titled “China is not going to allow the Philippines to act arbitrarily.”

The deterioration in relations with China comes as Marcos seeks to deepen defense ties with China United States. It has increased U.S. access to Philippine military bases and expanded joint exercises to incorporate sea and air patrols over the South China Sea, irritating Beijing.

Marcos of the Philippines denies fomenting conflict in South China Sea

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the 1951 mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and criticized China’s actions within the Second Thomas Shallow as “dangerous.”

In a phone call along with his Filipino counterpart Gilberto Teodoro on Wednesday, Austin “reaffirmed the United States’ iron-clad commitment to the Philippines,” which he said was to undertake a lawful resupply mission.

The Philippine-US treaty commits each countries to mutual defense within the event of attack and covers coast guard, civilian and military vessels within the South China Sea.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

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