ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – The Philippines said that China deliberately triggered clashes with its troops last week in the disputed South China Sea. In the clash, a Filipino soldier was seriously injured.
Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro said that the Philippines concluded that the clash that occurred on June 17 2024 was not a misunderstanding or accident.
“We are not taking the incident lightly. It was an aggressive and illegal use of force,” he said a day after accompanying President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited Western Command troops monitoring the South China Sea.
Teodoro added that the Philippines’ policy of asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea has not changed. He said that the Philippines would not publish a schedule for when it would send a supply mission to its military post at Second Thomas Shoal. This is different from Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin’s statement last week, which according to Teodoro was only a recommendation. The latest comments from the defense chief show how the Philippines wants to blame China for the June 17 clash.
The Philippines said that the Chinese coast guard crew used sharp weapons to stab the ship, seize the weapons and ram the Filipino ship, causing a Filipino sailor to lose his thumb.
“However, we continue to seek a peaceful solution to this problem. The Philippines is a responsible country,” said Teodoro.
Responding to Teodoro’s statement, China emphasized that Second Thomas Shoal is its territory.
“The Philippines must return to the path of negotiations with China and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning, Monday, June 24 2024.
Marcos said on Sunday that the Philippines would not use force or intimidation in disputed waters following the June 17 clash. He also said he did not want to trigger a war.
“We will continue to exercise our freedoms and rights to support our national interests, in accordance with international law,” Teodoro said.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said that the latest clash between Philippine and Chinese vessels could not be classified as an armed attack that could trigger Manila’s defense agreement with the US.
“By definition, an armed attack is the use of military force, the use of excessive force that can trigger collective self-defense,” said Ano.
The US State Department last week condemned China’s escalatory actions in the disputed waters. The Philippine military then released a video of what it called China’s brutal attack. (ATN)
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