MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr mentioned on Sunday his nation isn’t within the enterprise of instigating wars and can all the time goal to settle disputes peacefully, amid escalating maritime confrontations with China.
“In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully,” Marcos mentioned in a speech to troops of the Western Command unit accountable for overseeing the South China Sea.
Philippine navy personnel and the Chinese language coast guard had their newest conflict final week within the disputed waterway, the place the Philippine army mentioned a Filipino sailor was severely injured and its vessels broken.
“In the performance of our duties, we will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone,” Marcos mentioned.
He didn’t title China in his speech.
Beijing’s actions throughout a routine Philippine resupply mission have been condemned by america, Britain and Canada.
China’s overseas ministry disputed the Philippine account, with a spokesperson saying on Thursday that the required measures taken had been lawful, skilled and past reproach.
China claims nearly the complete South China Sea, a conduit for greater than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, together with elements claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
In 2016, the Everlasting Court docket of Arbitration in The Hague mentioned China’s claims had no authorized foundation, a choice Beijing has rejected.
