Philippine President: China continues to carry out provocative ‘acts of war’ in the disputed South China Sea

Philippine President Marcos warned China that any attack causing Filipino deaths in the South China Sea would be considered an "act of war" that could trigger a U.S. military response, ratcheting up tensions over the territorial dispute.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines said on Friday that any death of Filipino forces in the disputed South China Sea would be considered an act of war that could involve the United States, the country’s defense ally. 

Marcos made this statement during the Shangri-La Dialogue – an annual defense conference in Singapore with participants from around the world including the United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. 

There has been increased tension in the past few months between Manila and Beijing due to increasing confrontation in the South China Sea claimed by China for most parts. Manila said the Chinese have been aggressive lately, having recently used water cannons on Philippine supply boats and near Second Thomas Shoal where Filipino forces are aboard a marooned navy vessel. 

“In our view, if a Filipino – a Filipino serviceman or a Filipino citizen – is deliberately killed through an action, this I think is very close to an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly,” Marcos said dur summit. “I also think that others who are involved in these matters as our treaty partners also share the same opinion. ”

The Philippines has been a close ally of the United States for over seventy years with the signing of a mutual defense pact. When the journalist told Austin that if a Filipino was killed by China, then what would the U.   S.   do, Austin did not wish to hazard a guess but stressed that the U.   S.   was still fully committed to the treaty. 

Both Marcos and Austin spoke about their countries’ support of the freedom of navigation and the international rules-based order in the South China Sea which is a vital waterway. 

China responded angrily, a military spokesperson said that the Philippines has been ‘’provocative’’ in the disputed waters and urging the U. S.   not to further ‘’stoke instability’’ in the region. 

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The discordant notes pointed out that the territorial entitlements concerning the concerned sea might result in fully-fledged wars with the participation of the U.S. and its partners in the region.