South China Sea: Philippines’ Marcos vows countermeasures to Chinese ‘attacks’, says Manila won’t be ‘cowed into silence’

Manila has been furious over what it calls repeated aggression by China’s coastguard around disputed areas located inside its exclusive economic zone
The deterioration in relations with China come at a time when Marcos seeks to deepen defence ties with the United States

The Philippines

Reuters

Published: 4:55pm, 28 Mar 2024

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The Philippines will implement countermeasures proportionate and reasonable against “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by China’s coastguard and maritime militia in the South China Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said on Thursday.

“We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends, but we will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience,” Marcos said on Facebook.

He did not specify what the countermeasures would include.

No immediate risk of war with Manila over South China Sea: Beijing think tank

The Philippines has been furious in the past year over what it calls repeated aggression by China’s coastguard and allied fishing vessels around disputed features located inside Manila’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone.

The latest flare-up occurred last week, when China used water cannon to disrupt another Philippine resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal for soldiers posted to guard a warship intentionally grounded on a reef 25 years ago.

China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own, has accused the Philippines of encroaching on its territory and says it took necessary measures against the vessels.

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Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint

China warned the Philippines on Monday to behave cautiously and seek dialogue, saying their relations were at a “crossroads” as confrontations between their coastguards over maritime claims worsened tensions.

Marcos said he met his defence and security officials and has been in communication with “friends in the international community”.

“They have offered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Marcos said.

The provocations by the Philippine side are the direct cause of the recent heating up of the South China Sea issue

Beijing defence ministry statement

China on Thursday blamed Philippine actions for recent rising tensions.

“The provocations by the Philippine side are the direct cause of the recent heating up of the South China Sea issue,” Beijing’s defence ministry said in a statement entitled “China Will Not Allow the Philippines to Act Wilfully”.

The deterioration in relations with China come at a time when Marcos seeks to deepen defence ties with the United States. He has increased US access to Philippine military bases and joint exercises have been expanded to include sea and air patrols over the South China Sea, vexing Beijing.

Philippines’ Marcos denies stirring up conflict in South China Sea

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a 1951 mutual defence treaty with the Philippines and criticised as “dangerous” China’s actions at the Second Thomas Shoal.

In a phone call on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Austin “reaffirmed the ironclad US commitment to the Philippines” which it said was undertaking a lawful resupply mission.

The Philippine-US treaty binds both countries to defend each other if under attack and includes coastguard, civilian and military vessels in the South China Sea.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse