Philippines to 'stand our ground' in South China Sea dispute
The Peninsula
Manila: The Philippines will stand our ground in a dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, a top security official said Friday, eight years a...
Manila: The Philippines will "stand our ground" in a dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, a top security official said Friday, eight years after an international ruling against China in the territorial contest.
Tensions over the strategic waterway, a key passage for sea-borne trade, have soared in the past 18 months following a series of escalating confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships.
The most serious happened on June 17, when China Coast Guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine Navy boats during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
While the countries agreed last week to "de-escalate tensions" over the disputed reefs and waters, Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said Friday that Manila would not back down.
"We will continue to stand our ground and push back against coercion, interference, malign influence and other tactics that seek to jeopardise our security and stability," Ano said at an event celebrating the anniversary of the ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.