MANILA. The Philippines’ Defence Minister declared on Monday that the country’s armed forces will oppose China’s “dangerous and reckless behaviour” in the contested South China Sea.
“We will exert our utmost in order to fulfill our sworn mandate to protect our territorial integrity, sovereignty, and sovereign rights,” Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro stated. His remarks came on a day when China accused a Philippine resupply ship of causing a minor collision in the strategically vital waterway.
Teodoro emphasized that China’s actions “are the true obstacles to peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Manila and Beijing, which have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. On Monday, both nations exchanged accusations over the collision that occurred during a Philippine resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, an area within the Philippines’ 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
China’s embassy in Manila has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The Second Thomas Shoal, where the collision took place, is a focal point of the broader territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a region rich in natural resources and crucial for international maritime trade. The Philippines’ firm stance underscores the escalating tensions and the potential for conflict in this geopolitically sensitive area.
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.
