Philippines vows to continue resupply missions in South China Sea without escalating tensions

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MANILA. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed on Tuesday, December 10, that the Philippines will persist with its resupply missions in the South China Sea while steering clear of any actions that could escalate tensions, following a recent incident involving Chinese vessels.

“We will never be part of an escalation in the West Philippine Sea,” Marcos told reporters during a briefing. He emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting Filipino fishermen who rely on the contested waters for their livelihood.

The Philippines refers to the part of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.

The remarks came days after a December 4 incident in which Chinese coastguard vessels reportedly fired water cannons and side-swiped a boat from the Manila Fisheries Bureau. The vessel was delivering supplies to Filipino fishermen operating near Scarborough Shoal, a crucial fishing area claimed by both nations.

Philippine Coast Guard officials reported further aggressive actions, including “blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers” by a Chinese navy vessel.

Despite these actions, Marcos ruled out deploying navy warships to the area, stressing the importance of avoiding provocation. “We will continue our efforts peacefully and ensure our fishermen are protected,” he stated.

The Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest against China, reiterating its position. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, China’s coast guard previously accused Philippine vessels of “dangerously approaching” what Beijing claims are its territorial waters near Scarborough Shoal.

The South China Sea dispute remains a critical point of contention between the Philippines and China, with Manila seeking to assert its rights under the 2016 arbitral ruling invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims.

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Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.

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