While saying that the Philippines will cooperate in talks with China, its president Ferdinand Marcos Jr said at a forum in Australia on Monday that his country will push back when its sovereignty and maritime rights are ignored.
In a departure from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s pro-China stance, Marcos has accused Beijing of aggression in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, including the use of water cannon, “military-grade” lasers and collision tactics to drive away Philippine vessels.
The China Coast Guard issued a brief statement on the latest incident between the countries along with other past coast guard actions, including a link to what it called the “illegal invasion of Scarborough Shoal” on Feb 23.
In that incident, it said a China Coast Guard ship took necessary measures to drive a Philippine vessel away in accordance with the law.
Source: CNA
