MANILA, Philippine: The Philippines’ Defence Secretary, Gilberto Teodoro, denounced China’s actions in the South China Sea as “patently illegal” following a clash on Sunday between Chinese vessels and a Philippine fisheries vessel.
The incident occurred near the disputed Sabina shoal during what Manila described as a resupply mission for Filipino fishermen. Manila’s South China Sea task force accused Chinese ships of ramming and using water cannons against the Philippine vessel, while the Chinese coast guard claimed the Philippine boat ignored warnings and initiated the collision.
Teodoro emphasized the need for the Philippines to anticipate and prepare for such aggressive acts from China, which claims nearly all of the South China Sea despite competing claims from multiple nations, including the Philippines. He also downplayed the immediate invocation of the US-Philippines defense treaty, stressing the importance of deterring an armed conflict rather than focusing on treaty obligations.
This latest confrontation adds tension to the already strained relations in the South China Sea. The incident also threatens ongoing efforts to rebuild trust and manage disputes in the region.
