MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines’ countermeasures to China’s conduct in the South China Sea will involve strengthening its defense capabilities with allies and exhausting all diplomatic measures to resolve disputes, a security official said on Monday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said last week the Philippines would implement unspecified measures against “illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attacks” by China’s coast guard, raising the stakes in a growing dispute in the South China Sea.
“The proportionate, deliberate and reasonable response that the president spoke about not only addressed the aspect of strengthening military and defense capabilities with other allies … but also speaks to exhausting diplomatic efforts to resolve this issue,” the spokesperson said by National Security Council Jonathan Malaya. he told state TV, describing the package as multidimensional.
Marcos also ordered his government to strengthen coordination on maritime security to address “a number of serious challenges” to territorial integrity and peace, according to a copy of the directive released Sunday.
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that no matter what policies the Philippines adopts, none will affect China’s maritime sovereignty claims.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea as its territory, guarded by an armada of coast guard ships, some of them more than 1,000 km from the mainland.
The Philippines and China have had a series of clashes at sea over the past year over contentious maritime issues, coinciding with Manila’s intensifying defense commitments to the United States, an ally and former colonial power.
The latest flare-up occurred on March 24, when China used water cannons to disrupt a Philippine resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal for soldiers guarding a warship intentionally beached on a coral reef 25 years ago.
Defense officials traded barbs late last week, with China saying the Philippines was responsible for the breakdown in relations, accusing the neighbor of provocations, disinformation and betrayal.
The Philippines responded, accusing China of being patronizing and intimidating smaller countries.