Philippines Pledges Not to Raise Tensions in South China Sea Amid Drills

Facts

• Philippine Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told reporters on Monday that his country has no desire to raise tensions in the South China Sea, adding that there are no plans to install water cannons on vessels or to use any offensive weapons in the area.¹
• This comes as Manila summoned the Chinese envoy last week after Chinese vessels used water cannons against two Philippine vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal, damaging them.²
• The incident was the latest confrontation between China and America's oldest treaty ally in the Asia-Pacific, which have overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea.³
• Over the weekend, Philippine officials have also denied claims from Beijing that a deal had been agreed earlier this year on a so-called new model to manage another contested maritime area, the Second Thomas Shoal.⁴
• Meanwhile, the annual joint US-Philippines military exercises — dubbed Balikatan — continued on Monday with combat drills in the archipelago's northernmost island town along the strategic Bashi Channel.⁵
• Troops involved in the three-week exercises — which are set to end on Friday — carried out a coastal defending simulation to deter an amphibious landing from a notional invading force in the South China Sea.⁶

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Al Jazeera, ³Radio Free Asia, ⁴South China Morning Post, ⁵Associated Press and ⁶Stars and Stripes.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by RAPPLER. Though China has consistently harassed Philippine vessels, Manila will not follow suit and go down that dangerous path, because the mission of its forces is to lower tensions in the South China Sea. Beijing must abide by international rules and stop violating Philippine sovereign rights.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global Times. China is committed to maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. However, it seems that the Philippines is taking advantage of China's tolerance and goodwill by underestimating its ability to protect its territory and sovereignty. Manila is contributing to the escalation of the South China Sea conflict with the help of foreign countries.

Predictions