South China Sea: Philippines’ Marcos denies stirring up conflict, ‘poking the bear’ with Beijing
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said the threat to his nation from Beijing’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea is growing but argued that his government’s efforts to assert sovereignty over disputed areas aren’t meant to start a conflict by “poking the bear”.
“We are trying to keep things on an even keel,” Marcos said on Tuesday in an interview at the presidential palace in Manila. The challenge, he added, is that “since the threat has grown, we must do more to defend our territory”.
Along with Taiwan, the stand-off between the Philippines and Beijing over a series of contested reefs and islands has become a critical flashpoint in the region. Since Marcos took office in 2022, the Philippine military and coastguard have ramped up operations to supply troops at a remote outpost and escort fishermen he says have relied on the waters “for generations”.
A Philippine resupply vessel is hit by water cannons from a Chinese coastguard ship on March 5 in this photo provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/ via AP
That stance has sparked condemnation from Beijing, whose armada of fishing boats and coastguard vessels have often blocked Philippine ships and even collided with them, raising the risk of a conflict with China that could quickly draw in the US.
“We have not instigated any kind of conflict. We have not instigated any kind of confrontation,” Marcos, 66, said of his government’s policies. “We are just trying to feed our people.”
But, he added, “China has taken some very aggressive actions against our coastguard.”
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During a trip to deliver supplies to its outpost on the Second Thomas Shoal this month, Manila said four Filipino sailors were injured after two Chinese coastguard vessels blasted water cannons at their chartered boat.
The Marcos interview came on the same day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Manila. Ahead of a meeting with Marcos, Blinken criticised what he called Beijing’s “provocative” actions.
Marcos has also strengthened ties with other US allies. The Philippines upgraded relations with Australia last year, signed defence pacts with Britain and Canada and is negotiating a deal for mutual military visits with Japan.
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Marcos Jnr says Manila determined to use diplomacy to resolve South China Sea row with Beijing
Marcos Jnr says Manila determined to use diplomacy to resolve South China Sea row with Beijing
Marcos said his nation can’t accept China’s vast claims, which Beijing bases on a 1947 map that shows a vague “nine-dash line” sweeping over most of the South China Sea. A United Nations tribunal in 2016 ruled against Beijing’s claims, a verdict Xi Jinping’s government has rejected.
Despite the stand-off, Marcos emphasised that he’s kept talks with Beijing going and that he doesn’t want to be in the position of invoking a mutual defence treaty the Philippines has had with the US for decades.
Asked what might provoke him to utilise that defence accord, Marcos said the Philippines would have to be facing an “existential threat”.
“I hope the time never comes that we have to answer that question,” he said. “When you talk about the mutual defence treaty, to invoke that, actual outright violent conflict, then this is a very, very dangerous, very, very slippery road to go down.”
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On the impact of a potential second Donald Trump presidency, if it occurs, Marcos said that it would usher in “some changes, undoubtedly”, but didn’t think the relationship would fundamentally change, given that the two countries are treaty allies.
“As long as we stay true to the agreements of those treaties that we have had, I think the foreign policy will maintain a balance and there won’t be any radical changes, radical moves.”
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