China warns Philippines against 'provocations' in disputed waters

China warns the Philippines against provocative actions in the South China Sea, which it says have been “the direct cause of” the recent escalation in the disputed waters.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement on Thursday that Beijing "will not allow the Philippines to do whatever it wants, and has responded in a reasonable and forceful manner."

Wu was referring to a recent incident that took place in the Spratly Islands during which Manila says was a regular mission to resupply Filipino troops garrisoned on its grounded navy ship, the BRP Sierra Madre.

The Philippines claims the China Coast Guard blocked its supply vessel and damaged it with water cannon, injuring three soldiers.

The China Coast Guard, however, described its actions as "lawful regulation, interception and expulsion" of a foreign vessel that "tried to forcefully intrude" into Chinese waters.

"The provocations by the Philippine side are the direct cause of the recent heating up of the South China Sea issue," said the defense ministry.

It said Manila rests assured of the support of "external forces" and it has "frequently infringed on rights and provoked and created trouble at sea.”

The ministry also accused Manila of “spreading false information to mislead the international community's perception of the issue, which is, so to speak, going further and further down a dangerous road.”

In a message on X, President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines said Manila's allies have "assured" it of help to "protect" the Philippines' sovereignty.

He accused China of carrying out “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks,” in the disputed waters of the South China Sea.

Philippines ‘stirs up trouble’ in South China Sea by holding patrols with US: China

China rebukes the Philippines, saying Manila "stirs up trouble" in the South China Sea by holding joint air patrols with the help of “extraterritorial countries”, namely, the United States.

Marcos threatened China with “a response and countermeasure package that is proportionate, deliberate, and reasonable.”

He said the measures will be taken “over the succeeding weeks” in the face of “the open, unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks by agents of the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia.”

The president said Manila’s “allies, partners, and friends in the international community… have offered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our sovereignty.”

Marcos did not name any country or organization, but he made the remarks after US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to a mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.

Under the deal, signed in 1951, both countries to support each other if another party attacks the Philippines or the United States.

In a phone conversation with his Filipino counterpart, Austin described the China Coast Guard response to Philippine’s actions in the South China Sea as “dangerous.”

China claims almost the entire South China Sea. Its claims to the sea overlap with claims by other countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The US supports Manila in its territorial disputes.

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