MANILA – The president of the Philippines stated Sunday his nation would no longer yield to “any foreign power” after Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged at least two military boats with machetes, axes and hammers in a clash within the disputed South China Sea, but added the Philippines would by no means instigate a battle.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew with his most sensible generals and protection leader to the western island province of Palawan, which faces the South China Sea, to satisfy and award medals to military staff who got here beneath attack through the Chinese coast guard Monday as they tried to ship meals and different provides to an outpost at the hotly contested Second Thomas Shoal.
Videos and images of the chaotic faceoff made public through the army confirmed Chinese coast guard staff hitting a Philippine military boat with a picket bar and seizing a bag whilst blaring sirens and the usage of blinding strobe lighting. The Chinese govt stated that its coast guard had to do so after Filipino forces defied warnings to not stray into what China calls its personal offshore territory, a claim long rejected by rival claimant governments and international arbitrators.
The violent war of words sparked condemnation and alarm from the U.S., the European Union, Japan, Australia and different Western and Asian countries, whilst China and the Philippines blamed each and every different for instigating it. Marcos’s key advisers stated Friday that his management has no plan to invoke the country’s mutual defense treaty with the United States.
“We are not in the business to instigate wars,” Marcos informed Filipino forces. “In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully.”
In Monday’s faceoff on the shoal, Marcos stated “we made a conscious and deliberate choice to remain in the path of peace.” The Filipino military particular operations crew staff who got here beneath assault used handiest their naked palms to push back the Chinese, a few of whom pointed knives at them, stated Philippine army leader Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
“We stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence,” Marcos stated. “History itself can tell that we have never, never in the history of the Philippines yielded to any foreign power.”
Chinese officers in Manila and Beijing didn’t right away touch upon Marcos’s remarks.
Marcos praised about 80 officials and staff interested by Monday’s provide challenge, together with one that misplaced his proper thumb all the way through the prime seas war of words, pronouncing they “exercised the greatest restraint amidst intense provocation.” He issued an attraction: “Continue to satisfy your responsibility of protecting the country with integrity and recognize as you have got carried out to this point.”
The territorial disputes, which involve China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have long been seen as a flashpoint that could pit the U.S. against China if high seas confrontations escalate into armed conflict. Washington has repeatedly warned that it is obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces are attacked, including in the South China Sea.
Indonesian forces have additionally opened fire on Chinese fishing boats in previous confrontations in waters off the Natuna islands at the fringes of the South China Sea.
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