[ad_1]
Marcos did not mention China in his speech, but he praised the Philippine military for exercising restraint in the face of “strong provocation” and said the Philippines will always exercise its freedoms and rights in accordance with international law.
“In the performance of our duties, we will not resort to force or intimidation, nor will we intentionally harm anyone. We stand firm. Our calm, peaceful demeanor should not be mistaken for acquiescence,” Marcos said.
Recent maritime clashes between China and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally in Southeast Asia, have made the strategically important South China Sea a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing.
The United States condemned China’s actions and reiterated that in accordance with the mutual defense treaty signed by the two countries, the United States will firmly fulfill its defense commitments and will never allow any attacks against Philippine aircraft or ships in the South China Sea.
But the Philippines said on Friday there was no reason to invoke the treaty because China’s actions – which security officials described as escalatory – could not be classified as an “armed attack.”
China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a maritime trade route worth more than $3 trillion a year, including portions claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague said China’s claims had no legal basis, but Beijing rejected the ruling.
“We do not want to start a war, and our greatest wish is for every Filipino to live a peaceful and prosperous life. We refuse to abide by rules that force us to take sides in the competition between great powers,” Marcos said.
[ad_2]
Source link
