Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted that the country is not seeking conflict but will not succumb to intimidation following a violent encounter between the Philippine Navy and the China Coast Guard in the South China Sea.
During a visit to the headquarters of the Philippine South China Sea forces on Palawan island, Marcos emphasized the nation’s commitment to peaceful solutions. “In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully,” he stated.
Marcos presented medals to 80 sailors involved in the resupply mission and encouraged them to persist in their duty to defend the nation, acknowledging the increasing danger of their operations. “We will never be intimidated or oppressed by anyone,” he declared, while not directly naming China.
The clash occurred off Second Thomas Shoal, resulting in injuries to Filipino sailors and damage to two military boats. Beijing has maintained that its coastguard acted “professionally and restrained,” while Manila accused Chinese forces of aggressive actions, including theft and damage to equipment.
The incident has drawn international concern, with the United States, European Union, Japan, and Australia among those condemning the escalation. Despite this, the Philippine government clarified that Monday’s clash did not constitute an “armed attack” that would invoke the US-Philippines mutual defense treaty. However, there are growing worries about future confrontations.
