Philippines Urges Stronger Global Response to China’s South China Sea Aggression

Philippines Urges Stronger Global Response to China’s South China Sea Aggression

The Philippines has called for increased international action against China’s aggressive behavior in the disputed South China Sea. On Tuesday, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro labeled China as the “biggest disruptor of international peace” in the ASEAN region during a conference organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.

Teodoro urged for collective multilateral efforts to counter China’s actions, suggesting that a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning China and demanding it to cease its activities could be a powerful measure.

However, he acknowledged the complexities of securing such a resolution, stating, “The world is not perfect.”

This appeal follows a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces. Just days earlier, Chinese coastguard vessels rammed and fired water cannons at a Philippine boat delivering fuel, food, and medical supplies to fishermen operating near Half-Moon and Sabina Shoals. The “perilous maneuvers” caused engine failure, forcing the humanitarian mission to be aborted, according to the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea.

In a related incident last Thursday, a Chinese fighter jet fired flares at a Philippine aircraft conducting routine patrols near Subi Reef. This marked the second such incident in just two weeks.

China, which claims nearly the entire South China Sea, has intensified its actions in the area despite a 2016 international court ruling that dismissed its claims as having no legal or historical basis. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have competing claims in the resource-rich region.