Manila: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized his country’s commitment to peaceful dispute resolution, asserting that the Philippines does not seek conflict despite escalating maritime tensions with China.
“In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully,” Marcos stated during a speech to troops overseeing the South China Sea at the Western Command unit.
Last week, Philippine navy personnel clashed with Chinese coast guard forces during a routine resupply mission in the South China Sea, resulting in severe injuries and damaged vessels, according to Manila.
The Philippine military accused Chinese Coast Guard personnel of using knives and spears to loot firearms and intentionally damaging Philippine boats during the incident. China countered these claims, asserting that their actions were lawful and professional.
While Marcos did not directly name China, he commended Philippine troops for maintaining restraint “amidst intense provocation.” He affirmed his country’s commitment to exercising freedoms and rights in accordance with international law.
“In the performance of our duties, we will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone,” Marcos asserted. “Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence.”
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Recent confrontations in the South China Sea have heightened tensions between China and the Philippines, a key U.S. ally in Southeast Asia. The strategic importance of the region has drawn international concern, with the United States condemning China’s actions and reaffirming defense commitments under their mutual treaty with the Philippines.
Despite these tensions, Marcos indicated that the Philippines does not intend to invoke the treaty with the United States, citing that China’s actions, though escalatory, do not meet the threshold of an “armed attack.”
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China asserts expansive territorial claims over nearly the entire South China Sea, conflicting with claims by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s claims in 2016, a decision Beijing has refused to accept.
“We are not in the business to instigate wars – our great ambition is to provide a peaceful and prosperous life for every Filipino,” Marcos affirmed. “We refuse to play by the rules that force us to choose sides in a great power competition.”
