The Philippines intends to defend its waters from China by all means
The Philippines is planning an escalation of hostilities in the South China Sea, including a scenario in which crews will be ready to repel Chinese forces attempting to board Philippine ships, according to a senior military official.
Ties between the two countries have deteriorated this year after several collisions and repeated standoffs near disputed stretches of the South China Sea, with the Philippines accusing China of aggressive, deliberate and dangerous maneuvers.
The Philippines has taken a tougher line on China this year, coinciding with strengthening military ties with the United States, a defense treaty ally, and increasing security engagement with other Western powers .
“Expect more coercive actions from China, unless it is an armed attack,” Alberto Carlos, head of the Philippines' Western Command, told CNN Philippines on Wednesday.
“After the water cannons, there will probably be a ramming and they will also try to board our ship, which we will not allow them to do.”
This scenario, Carlos said, is part of military exercises held by the Philippine Navy and academic discussions about what other actions China might take. The Philippines summoned the Chinese ambassador on Tuesday to protest the “harassment that occurred over the weekend in several locations, including collisions and the use of water cannons.
Beijing has repeatedly accused Philippine ships operating in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of trespassing into Chinese waters. We know that China claims control over the entire South China Sea, even when it reaches a few kilometers from the coasts of the coastal countries.
Philippine Navy crew
The Philippines is increasingly wary of China's coast guard and the presence of hundreds of Chinese fishing boats they consider militia forces. Moreover, recently the waters of the economic area of the Philippines have been literally invaded by Chinese ships .
“We are brainstorming, we are wargaming and we are ready for any eventuality,” said Carlos, whose job includes defending the Philippines' EEZ.
China claims sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship-borne trade. Those claims, which an arbitral tribunal declared unfounded, extend to the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.
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The article The Philippines intends to defend its waters from China by all means comes from Economic Scenarios .
This is a machine translation of a post published on Scenari Economici at the URL https://scenarieconomici.it/le-filippine-intendono-difendere-con-ogni-mezzo-le-proprie-acque-dalla-cina/ on Sat, 16 Dec 2023 11:00:52 +0000.