Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr yesterday said his country is not in the business of instigating wars and would always aim to settle disputes peacefully, but “will not be intimidated” by anyone, amid escalating maritime confrontations with China.
“In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully,” Marcos said in a speech to troops of the Western Command unit in charge of overseeing the South China Sea.
On Monday last week, China Coast Guard officials boarded Philippine rubber boats that were on a resupply mission to a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal (Renai Shoal, 仁愛暗沙). Manila accused the Chinese authorities of seizing guns, puncturing boats and ramming vessels, which led to a Filipino losing his thumb, while Beijing has maintained its actions were professional and lawful.
Photo: Reuters
Marcos awarded medals to 80 sailors who took part in the resupply mission, including the one who lost his thumb, urging them to “continue to fulfill your duty of defending the nation,” even as he said the situation has become “dangerous.”
The president, who did not name China in his speech, commended the troops for exercising restraint “amidst intense provocation.”
“As we award these medals, we remember that on June 17th, we made a conscious and deliberate choice to remain in the path of peace,” he said.
However, he also said that the Philippines “will never be intimidated or oppressed by anyone.”
“We have never, never in the history of the Philippines, yielded to any foreign power,” Marcos said to applause, while pledging to “continue to exercise our freedoms and rights in support of our national interest, in accordance with international law.”
“In the performance of our duties, we will not resort to the use of force or intimidation, or deliberately inflict injury or harm to anyone,” Marcos said. “We stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence.”
Chinese officials in Manila and Beijing did not immediately comment on Marcos’ remarks.
Additional reporting by AP and Bloomberg
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