China threatens Philippines with military force amid territorial dispute over South China Sea

China threatens Philippines with military force amid territorial dispute over South China Sea

Kyiv  •  UNN

December 22 2023, 01:39 PM • 24916 views

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned of a possible escalation after speaking with his Philippine counterpart.

China will continue military pressure on the Philippines amid a sovereignty dispute in the South China Sea. This was reported by UNN with reference to the statement of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Details

The Chinese minister had a telephone conversation with his Philippine counterpart Enrique A. Manalo, during which he warned of a possible escalation of the situation.

If the Philippine side misjudges the situation, goes its own way, or even colludes with malevolent external forces to continue to cause problems, China will defend its rights in accordance with the law and respond decisively

- summarized the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also advised the Philippines to "get back on track." The ministry added that the current urgent task is to properly manage and control the current situation at sea.

Addendum

Meanwhile, Manalo's office called the conversation a "frank and candid exchange," saying the two sides reached "a clearer understanding of our respective positions on a number of issues."

Context

China considers almost the entire South China Sea to be its territory. Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam also claim part of the sea area. In 2016.

The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague has recognized some of China's claims as illegal. However, China does not recognize this decision.

In this regard, incidents between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the region occur regularly. The United States has repeatedly emphasized that it will defend the Philippines in the event of an armed attack under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

Recall

Chinese President Xi Jinping is seeking to strengthen ties with Russia, emphasizing the importance of strategic Sino-Russian relations and seeking to intensify cooperation in various fields.

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