China Issues Warning to Philippines Amid Ongoing South China Sea Tensions

BEIJING, China — China’s military announced on Sunday that it conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea and issued a warning to the Philippines regarding provocations. The two countries have faced a long-standing maritime standoff in this strategic waterway, characterized by frequent clashes between their coast guard ships and extensive naval exercises.

A spokesperson from the Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command emphasized that the Philippines must halt its provocations and efforts to escalate tensions in the region. The spokesperson declared, “We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea, as well as bringing in external forces for backing such efforts that are destined to be futile. Any attempt to stir up trouble or disrupt the situation will not succeed.”

The Philippine maritime council and armed forces did not respond to inquiries outside business hours. Additionally, the Philippine embassy in Beijing also did not provide immediate comments on the situation.

In response to rising tensions, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command stated that Japan, the Philippines, and the United States held joint maritime exercises within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone from September 11 to September 13. This collaboration aims to strengthen regional partnerships and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The command affirmed, “The U.S., along with our allies and partners, upholds the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to the maritime rights under international law.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed solidarity with the Philippines on Friday, rejecting what he termed China’s “destabilizing plans” for a disputed atoll in the South China Sea.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, which is a crucial waterway for global commerce, facilitating over $3 trillion of annual trade. This claim overlaps with assertions from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.