MANILA (Reuters) – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. mentioned on Sunday that the Philippines wouldn’t incite struggle and would at all times work to resolve the dispute peacefully amid an escalating maritime confrontation with China.
“In defending our nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature and need all these points to be resolved peacefully,” Marcos mentioned in a speech to Western Command troops overseeing the South China Sea.
The newest conflict between Philippine navy personnel and China’s coast guard occurred final week within the disputed waterway, with the army saying a Filipino sailor was severely injured and his vessel broken.
“Within the discharge of our duties, we is not going to resort to drive or intimidation, nor will we deliberately hurt anybody,” Marcos mentioned.
He didn’t title China in his speech.
Beijing’s actions throughout a routine provide mission within the Philippines had been condemned by the US, Britain and Canada.
China’s International Ministry disputed the Philippines’ claims, with a spokesman saying on Thursday that the mandatory measures taken had been authorized, skilled and past reproach.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea, a thoroughfare for greater than $3 trillion in annual delivery commerce, together with elements claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2016, the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration in The Hague mentioned China’s claims had no authorized foundation, however Beijing rejected the choice.
