MANILA, Philippines—President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared on Sunday that the Philippines would not bow down to any foreign power following a clash in the disputed South China Sea where Chinese forces injured Filipino navy personnel and damaged military boats. Despite the altercation, Marcos emphasized that the Philippines has no intention of starting a war.
Accompanied by top military officials, Marcos visited Palawan to commend navy personnel who were attacked by the Chinese coast guard on June 17 as they were delivering supplies to an outpost on Second Thomas Shoal. Videos and images released by the military depicted the Chinese coast guard using violent means to obstruct the Filipino mission, triggering condemnation from various countries.
The United States, European Union, Japan, Australia, and other nations expressed concern over the incident, with both China and the Philippines pointing fingers at each other for the escalation. While the US urged the Philippines to invoke their mutual defense treaty, Marcos reiterated the country’s commitment to resolving disputes peacefully.
In the faceoff at the shoal, Marcos commended the Filipino navy personnel for choosing peace over aggression, even when faced with hostility from the Chinese forces. The delicate situation highlighted the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving multiple nations, including China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
Despite the tension, Marcos emphasized that the Philippines has a history of not succumbing to foreign powers. The incident underscores the potential for the South China Sea disputes to escalate into a larger conflict, with the US closely monitoring the situation.
Overall, Marcos praised the restraint shown by the Filipino forces and urged them to continue defending the nation with integrity and respect. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and the importance of maintaining peace and stability.
By Jim Gomez
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