Manila says China is 'pushing the Philippines into a corner' with aggression in South China Sea

Manila, Philippines—— China's growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea is “pushing us into a corner”, a Philippine security official said on Tuesday, warning that “all options are on the table” for Manila's response, including filing new international lawsuits .

A large Chinese coast guard ship patrolled the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Tuesday before sailing as close as 77 nautical miles (143 kilometers) to the country's northwest coast, Philippine officials told a news conference.

“The presence of this giant ship in Philippine waters 77 nautical miles off our coastline is unacceptable and the Chinese government should withdraw it immediately,” said National Security Council Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, speaking with senior Press conference with military and Coast Guard officials.

“You have us cornered,” Malaya said of China.

Two Philippine Coast Guard vessels, supported by a small reconnaissance aircraft, repeatedly ordered the 165-meter (541-foot) Chinese coast guard ship to exit the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, a 200 nautical mile (370 kilometers) stretch of sea. Withdraw. “water,” said Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela.

“What we are doing there is challenging the illegal presence of the Chinese Coast Guard moment by moment, day after day, and letting the international community know that we will not allow China to normalize illegal deployments,” Tariela said.

Chinese officials had no immediate comment. In the past, they have repeatedly accused the Philippines and other claimants including Vietnam and Malaysia of violating what they call “undisputed” Chinese territorial waters.

Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who takes office in mid-2022, the Philippines has aggressively defended its territorial interests in the South China Sea, a key global trade route. That has led to frequent confrontations between Philippine troops and China's coast guard, navy and suspected militia vessels, and raised concerns that a larger armed conflict could involve the United States, the Philippines' long-time treaty ally and China's regional rival. .

The one-sided conflict has forced the Philippines to seek security arrangements with other Asian and Western countries, including Japan. In July last year, the Philippines and Japan signed an important agreement allowing the two countries' militaries to conduct joint combat training. The agreement, which must be approved by lawmakers in both countries to take effect, is the first of its kind signed by Japan in Asia.

After a tense territorial standoff with the Philippines in 2012, China sent its coast guard and other vessels to surround Scarborough Shoal. In response, the Philippines submitted its dispute with China to international arbitration in 2013. Three years later, the Hague arbitration panel declared it invalid and the Philippines basically won the case. China has extensive claims to busy sea lanes under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China rejected the 2016 arbitration award and continues to openly resist it.

“Will this lead to another case?” Malaya said. “All options are on the table because the closer this giant ship comes to Philippine waters, the greater the tension and the more the Philippine government will consider things it has not considered before.”

A senior Philippine official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to lack of authority, said China has warned the Philippines not to file another legal case in an international forum after the arbitration and instead prefer bilateral negotiations because of Beijing's size and influence. Has advantages. Discuss such sensitive issues openly.

The two countries have also been discussing territorial conflicts under bilateral consultation mechanisms to avoid escalating the dispute. The next round of talks will be hosted by China, the official said.