The Philippines on Thursday hit back at China after last weekend’s violent clashes in the South China Sea over water cannons by China’s coast guard, telling Beijing that “Filipinos will not yield.”
After meeting with top Philippine defense and security officials, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Manila’s response was “an illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attack carried out by operatives in an open and continuous manner. “In the face of this, it will be proportionate, planned and rational.” of the Chinese Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia. ”
Mr. Marcos did not go into details about what steps the government would take in the future.
On March 5, 2024, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel fires water cannons at the Philippine supply ship Unayza on its way to a replenishment mission at No. 2 Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024.Reuters/Adrian Portugal (Reuters/Adrian Portugal)
Taiwan stands as a major line of defense against a global war with China and is vital to U.S. security.
The Philippine president’s comments came days after two Chinese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannons at Philippine Navy crew members at point-blank range over a dispute in disputed waters near Second Thomas Shoal.
Several Filipino crew members were reportedly injured, one of them being lifted off the deck and thrown into a wall after being detonated by a water cannon, but the impact prevented him from jumping into the sea. A Philippine military official pointed out that the incident appears to have been avoided.
A wooden ship believed to be transporting supplies to Marines stationed at the 2nd Thomas Shoal outpost was also damaged.
The conflict between China and the Philippines has intensified since Manila began repairs in October 2023 of the BRP Sierra Madre naval vessel, which had been left to rust for more than a quarter of a century.
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The Sierra Madre ran aground in 1997 by the Philippine Navy on a partially submerged reef known as Second Thomas Shoal, which has served as Manila’s outpost in the South China Sea.
On March 30, 2014, Chinese Coast Guard patrols near the stranded transport ship BRP Sierra Madre, occupied by Philippine Marines as a military outpost, at the disputed Second Thomas Reef, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. ship. (Reuters/Eric de Castro)
The reef is classified as low tide elevation, meaning it is a naturally formed landmass that sits above the sea at low tide, and is part of the Spratly Islands, an area hotly contested by countries such as China, Taiwan and Vietnam. be. Malaysia and the Philippines.
According to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, the reef is located more than 100 nautical miles from the Philippine Economic Exclusion Zone and outside the territorial waters of any country, making it “not subject to sovereignty claims or expropriation by any nation under international law.” It’s not even a target.”
But despite the ship’s aging nature, which has long since lost its seaworthiness, the Philippine government continues to station Marines on the ship, staking its rights to the disputed territory, according to the U.S. Naval Research Institute. It has been reported.
File photo – Philippine Marines wave to Philippine Navy personnel and the media while replenishing the transport ship BRP Sierra Madre stranded at the disputed Second Thomas Reef, part of the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, March 2014. 29th. (Reuters/Eric de Castro)
The United States condemned China’s aggressive actions and reminded Beijing that it would defend Manila under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty if Philippine troops, aircraft, or ships come under armed attack.
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In response to the US comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday: “The US is not a party to the South China Sea issue and is not in a position to interfere in matters between China and the Philippines.”
“China is determined to protect our country’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests,” he added. “The U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty does not in any way divert our will and resolve.”
The United States and its regional allies, including Japan and Australia, have repeatedly called on Beijing to respect international law and not change the status quo in the South China Sea.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
