The Philippines does not want an escalation of conflict in the South China Sea, the country’s military spokesman said on Tuesday in response to Chinese accusations that Manila is encroaching on Beijing’s territory.
Medel Aguilar told state-run broadcaster PTV:
“Philippines is not provoking conflict. We follow international law and we are only implementing our domestic law, meaning the limits of our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone where we have sovereign rights.”
Aguilar said the Philippines’ activities do not endanger ships and sailors, and instead accused China of engaging in dangerous manoeuvres that sometimes lead to collisions at sea.
The comments came a day after China’s People’s Daily wrote that the Philippines, backed by the United States, was constantly provoking China and its “extremely dangerous” behaviour was seriously damaging regional peace and stability. Aguilar noted:
“They are the ones committing all the violations.”
Tensions between Manila and Beijing have risen in recent months, with both sides routinely accusing each other of a series of clashes at sea, including China allegedly ramming a ship carrying the Philippines’ military chief this month.
The Philippines regularly sends resupply missions for Filipino soldiers living aboard an aging warship that deliberately ran aground in 1999 to defend Manila’s maritime claims.
