China Warns Philippines, Every Calculation Error In The South China Sea Will Be Responded Firmly

The incident was intercepted by a Chinese coast guard ship against a Philippine guard ship that will deliver supplies to Beting Ayungin on June 30, 2023. (Wikimedia Commons/Philippine Coast Guard)

JAKARTA - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned the Philippines that any calculational errors in the escalating disputes in the South China Sea would result in a firm response, urging dialogue to address the "serious difficulties" between the two neighboring countries.

Beijing and Manila have made sharp accusations in recent months over a series of disputes in the South China Sea, including allegations that China crashed into a ship carrying the commander-in-chief of the Philippine armed forces earlier this month. On the other hand, China accuses the Philippines of offenses in its territory.

The worsening of this relationship coincided with Manila's move to improve military relations with Japan and the United States, its former colonial powers and defense allies for seven decades.

"Chinese-Philippine relations are at a crossroads," Foreign Minister Wang told his Philippines counterpart Enrique Manalo by telephone, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Manalo said in a statement he had an honest and straightforward conversation with Wang in which the two "recorded the importance of dialogue". A ministry spokesman said Foreign Minister Manalo had requested the call.

If the Philippines wrongly assesses or colludes with "bad intentions" external forces, China will defend its rights and respond decisively, Foreign Minister Wang said, but it was not detailed what action might be taken.

Wang's remarks could exacerbate the years-long dispute, in which the Philippines will fight what they see as China's campaign to prevent the country from accessing fossil fuels and fishery resources in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

A spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday: "Chinese positions remain unchanged that disputes must be handled properly through dialogue and consultation."

The increase in armed confrontations, although unlikely, would be a significant increase, as the United States was bound by a 1951 agreement to defend the Philippines if the country was attacked, including in the South China Sea.

Separately, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, in a speech to his military on Thursday said his country remains committed to strengthening the armed forces and existing alliances, citing incidents involving armed forces commanders as worrying.

"You are becoming very important because in recent years the Philippines has been in the midst of geopolitical developments and tensions that have the potential to cause regional insecurity," he said at a meeting at a military headquarters in Manila.

It is known, China claims almost all of the South China Sea through nine intersecting lines overlapping with the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Indonesia EEZs.

An international arbitration court in 2016 rejected China's claim in a decision on a case filed by the Philippines. However, Beijing did not recognize the decision.