Manila needs to become accustomed to China’s actions in the South China Sea, anticipate them, and be prepared, according to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro.
The defense minister for the Philippines declared that China’s operations in the South China Sea are “patently illegal” after a confrontation in disputed areas involving what Manila claimed to be a fisherman’s resupply mission.
“Since this is a fight, we must expect China to behave in this way. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told reporters on Monday, “We have to be ready to anticipate and to get used to these kinds of acts of China, which are patently illegal, as we have repeatedly said.”
The South China Sea task force based in Manila accused Chinese vessels of ramming and firing water cannons against a Philippine fisheries vessel that was carrying gasoline, food, and medication for Filipino fisherman near Sabina Shoal.
The Philippine ship “ignored repeated serious warnings and deliberately approached and rammed” China’s law enforcement boat, according to the Chinese coast guard, causing a collision.
Teodoro responded, “That is putting the cart before the horse,” when asked if the most recent event would make the United States and the Philippines subject to treaty responsibilities. The most crucial issue is to prevent an armed attack.”
President Joe Biden and other US officials have reiterated Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to support the Philippines in the event that its soldiers and ships are attacked with weapons in the South China Sea.
“Everybody is too focused on armed attack; let’s make ourselves strong enough so that does not happen,” Teodoro stated.
Conflict in the South China Sea
After months of clashes, the incident on Sunday overshadowed efforts to restore confidence and effectively handle conflicts in the South China Sea.
For the past year, Beijing and Manila have been involved in a tense dispute over conflicting claims in the South China Sea, an area through which $3 trillion worth of trade travels yearly.
To defuse tensions and resolve issues, Manila and China last month came to a temporary agreement for resupply missions in the South China Sea. The deal’s specifics have not been disclosed to the public.
Nearly the whole South China Sea is under Chinese jurisdiction, with the exception of regions that are also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Taiwan.
Beijing has disagreed with an international arbitral tribunal’s 2016 ruling that China’s claim lacked support under international law.
