Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr warns China against ‘acts of war’

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has warned China to not cross a pink line within the South China Sea, the place a standoff between the international locations continues to escalate.

If any Filipino died in consequence of China’s wilful actions, he stated on Friday, the Philippines would take into account it as near “an act of war” and reply accordingly.

Mr Marcos was talking at a safety discussion board in Singapore attended by defence chiefs from all over the world, together with the US’s Lloyd Austin.

He confused the area remained a important focus for Washington, and that the US was solely safe if Asia was too.

In latest months the longstanding dispute between China and the Philippines over territory within the South China Sea has sharpened into aggressive clashes.

Manila has complained vociferously about Chinese patrol ships firing water cannon at Philippine boats and provide vessels.

Beijing has stated that it’s defending its sovereignty. At the summit, a Chinese navy spokesman accused the Philippines of making “provocations”.

Observers worry that any escalation might spark a battle within the South China Sea between the Chinese and Americans. The US is certain by a treaty signed with the Philippines to come back to the South East Asian nation’s defence, ought to it come beneath assault.

The US has stated it’ll stand by its commitments to its allies within the area, and has sought to attract them nearer together with holding a summit with the Philippines and Japan final month.

On Friday evening, Mr Marcos had simply completed delivering the opening handle on the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore when a delegate posed a hypothetical scenario the place Chinese water cannon killed a Filipino soldier. He was requested if he would take into account {that a} pink line, and if this is able to invoke the US-Philippines treaty.

“If by a wilful act a Filipino – not only serviceman, but even Filipino citizen – is killed… that is what I think very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly. And our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard.”

He famous that Filipinos have been injured in latest clashes, however none had been killed but. “Once we get to that point, that is certainly, we would have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly it’s going to be a red line.”

Asked by the BBC for remark, a Chinese navy spokesman stated that “if only one personnel was accidentally killed in a conflict or accident that triggers war, then I really believe it’s a belligerent country”.

He additionally took concern with Mr Marcos criticising China’s strikes to assert sovereignty in his speech, and accused the Philippines of “deflecting the blame on China”.

Hours later US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated in his speech that “the harassment that the Philippines has faced is dangerous – plain and simple”.

When requested how the US would reply to the scenario posed to Mr Marcos, he stated that whereas their dedication to their treaty with the Philippines was “ironclad”, he wouldn’t speculate on how the US may react.

But he stated they might proceed to extend dialogue and promote freedom of navigation within the seas and skies. “Our goal is to make sure that we don’t allow things to spiral out of control unnecessarily,” he stated. “A war or a fight with China is neither imminent, in my view, or unavoidable.”

Addressing a roomful of delegates largely from Asia, he underscored the US’ dedication to the Indo-Pacific area, which he stated remained their precedence, regardless of the Ukraine and Gaza conflicts.

He listed the methods they have been increase numerous Asian international locations’ defences by navy workouts, agreements, and US troop presence. “The United States can be secure only if Asia is secure,” he stated.

One key half of the US technique is beefing up the Philippines’ navy. A years-long defence roadmap with the US may even see the superpower sending drones, navy transport plane and defence techniques. Manila can be angling to get a sizeable chunk of a proposed US navy support package deal for its allies within the Indo-Pacific area.

The Philippines can be rising its personal navy spending and has acquired missiles from India.

At the summit, the Chinese navy stated that the Philippines was “emboldened” by outside powers and had “broken its own promises and made provocations” over the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, the place Manila has established a navy outpost.

They additionally objected to the US sending a mid-range missile system to the Philippines in a latest joint navy train, saying it “posed a real threat to regional security”.

Referring to Mr Austin’s speech, a Chinese navy spokesman stated the US’ technique would “create division, provoke confrontation and undermine stability” within the area. It appealed to South East Asian international locations to resolve disagreements with China by dialogue “rather than inviting wolves into our house and playing with fire”.

But each the US and China have additionally signalled they’re eager on enhancing communications to keep away from battle.

Following a gathering between Mr Austin and Mr Dong, either side stated they have been engaged on resuming phone conversations between navy commanders – a key hotline severed in 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s go to to Taiwan – and establishing a disaster communications working group.

“I told Mr Dong that if he calls me on urgent matter, I will answer the phone. And I certainly hope that he’ll do the same,” stated Mr Austin, who added that such communication would enhance stability within the area.

The Chinese navy stated the assembly was “positive, practical and constructive” and that the US-China relationship was “stabilising from further deterioration”.