'They will be taken over': Fresh threat for Philippines as dispute with China erupts

Chinese ships, including from the Coast Guard and the People's Liberation Army Navy, now regularly patrol near Thitu Island, a Philippine-held feature in the contested South China Sea. A Chinese helicopter recently flew overhead during a reconnaissance mission.

Former Chinese diplomat Victor Gao, now a think tank analyst, issued a stark warning: "If any Filipinos want to feel safe in places west of East 118 degrees longitude, it's a fantasy. They will be taken over." This statement underscores the escalating assertiveness of China's claims in the region.

“

If any Filipinos want to feel safe in places west of East 118 degrees longitude, it's a fantasy. They will be taken over.

In response, Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro declared, "China's behaviour is irresponsible, escalatory and provocative. Appeasement does not work. Every country worth its salt must not give into appeasement." His remarks highlight the Philippines' stance against yielding to Chinese pressure.

The core of the dispute lies in China's expansive claims over the South China Sea, which it bases on historical rights within its "nine-dash line." This claim conflicts with the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) established for the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). A decade ago, an international arbitration court affirmed the Philippines' EEZ, ruling China's nine-dash line invalid, a decision China rejected.

“

China's behaviour is irresponsible, escalatory and provocative. Appeasement does not work. Every country worth its salt must not give into appeasement.