Marcos: Philippines not the one causing commotions in West Philippine Sea

PRAGUE – The Philippines is not the one causing “commotions” in the West Philippine Sea, President Marcos asserted on Friday, reacting to fresh accusations from Beijing that Manila is using the issue to “instigate disputes.”

“I don’t know of any instance when the Philippines has instigated anything, at any point, both verbally, or militarily, or diplomatically,” Marcos told Filipino journalists covering his state visit here.

“All of these commotions were not caused by the Philippines. So, I don’t know what they are referring to,” the President said.

Marcos was reacting to Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin’s call for Manila to stop misleading the international community using the South China Sea issue.

The President said his administration is busy “running the country” and “making the best life (for) Filipinos.”

In an interview with the Philippine media in Berlin, Germany on March 13, the President said he was “not surprised” by Chinese President Xi Jinping’s call for the country’s military to coordinate preparations for military conflicts at sea.

“That’s what they’ve been doing already. They have defined the 10-dash line, and on our part continue to defend what we – and the international community – has recognized as our maritime territory,” Marcos said.

Asked to comment on China National Offshore Oil Corp.’s discovery of a hundred-million-ton oilfield in the South China Sea and on the alleged plan to revive the negotiations for joint oil exploration with China following the oil discovery, Marcos said: “Well, look, once again the sovereignty and the sovereign rights and our territorial jurisdictions remain a key in all of these talks and we cannot, we cannot at any point, somehow compromise the territorial integrity of the Philippines.”

“So that is going to be the main principle behind any kind of talks that we might have. So depending on areas that we are talking about, that will come into play. So let me leave it at that. That is the guiding principle that I’m following whenever it comes to all of these things,” the President said.

Marcos is set to meet US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on March 19 to tackle cooperation and security matters.

In Beijing on Friday, a Chinese defense ministry spokesperson warned the Philippines against treading the “wrong path” as Beijing accused Manila of provoking tensions in the South China Sea.

At a briefing, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang cited the March 5 collision between the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel and Philippine Coast Guard ship BRP Sindangan during the latter’s resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

“We urge the Philippine side not to further walk down the wrong path and immediately stop any provocative actions that may escalate the disputes or complicate the situation,” the official said.

China also accused the Philippines of bringing construction materials to fortify the beached warship in Ayungin Shoal, a claim Manila has denied.

The Philippines has accused the CCG of illegally entering waters within its exclusive economic zone.

“The China Coast Guard took necessary regulatory measures in accordance with the law, and the on-site actions were professional, restrained, justified and lawful. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose the provocations and infringements made by the Philippine side,” Zhang said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab