Philippines defending territory, not seeking trouble in South China Sea – President.

On Friday, the president of the Philippines stated that his country will defend its territory and its fishermen’s rights, even though the Philippines is not looking for problems amid a dispute with China over access to a crucial shoal in the South China Sea.

This Monday, the Philippine coastguard said that they had dismantled a floating barrier built by China that was 300 meters (980 feet) long. The barrier prevented access to the fiercely contested Scarborough Shoal, an area China has controlled for more than ten years.

In his initial statements about the most recent escalation of tensions, the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stated that the Philippines was preserving its rights to fish within its exclusive economic zone.

“What we will do is to continue defending the Philippines, the maritime territory of the Philippines, and the rights of our fishermen to catch fish in areas where they have been doing it for hundreds of years already,” Marcos told reporters. “What we will do is to continue defending the Philippines.”

“Because of this, I simply do not comprehend how or why this transpired.”

The Chinese coastguard challenged the Philippine government’s account of the events, while the United States supported its partner Manila. A senior defense official has referred to the Chinese government’s action as a “bold step” and emphasized the United States’ contractual commitments to safeguard its former colony.

Marcos continued, saying, “Many of these are operational issues, and that is something I really cannot talk about.”

“But in terms of bringing down the barrier, I don’t see what else we could do,” she said. “I don’t see what else we could do.”

Overtures by Marcos to develop defense ties with Washington, including granting wider access to its soldiers, ostensibly for training and humanitarian purposes, have led to a deterioration in the relations between the Philippines and China as of late. This is mostly because Marcos made these overtures.

China has reprimanded the United States for what it deems to be provocative actions in the region. China maintains that Scarborough Shoal is part of its jurisdiction.