Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines said tensions in the West Philippine Sea are driven by China’s illegal and coercive actions, rejecting accusations that Manila is provoking incidents, but China, in its rebuttal, warned that the Philippines is being pushed to the brink of conflict.
In a statement, the National Maritime Council (NMC) said Filipino fishers are lawfully pursuing their livelihood in the West Philippine Sea and that giving them protection is a lawful act.
“Protecting them is a responsibility of the state, not an act of escalation,” the council said.
The council said maritime operations are conducted to ensure safety at sea, provide humanitarian assistance and enforce the law, and are consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
It accused Chinese vessels and aircraft of engaging in dangerous maneuvers, including blocking, ramming, intimidation and the use of water cannons against Philippine vessels and fishers, saying such actions place lives at risk and undermine regional peace and stability.
China later responded through the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines, rejected the statement as “unfounded and misleading” and blamed Manila for heightened tensions in the disputed waters.
The embassy argued that there is no concept of a “maritime zone” under UNCLOS, saying the convention only provides for legal regimes such as the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone. It accused the Philippines of blurring the distinction between the two and of mischaracterizing China’s activities in contested waters as illegal.
China reiterated its position that the 2016 arbitration initiated by the Philippines was “null and void,” citing a 2006 declaration that excluded certain categories of disputes from compulsory arbitration.
The embassy said China has exercised restraint but warned that some Philippine officials and actions are pushing the country toward confrontation, saying this would harm the country’s long-term interests and regional stability. It said China remains open to dialogue but opposes what it called false and provocative narratives.
“Some people provoke confrontation and tension under the pretext of ‘safeguarding rights.’ They push the Philippines to the forefront of geopolitical competition and to the brink of conflict with its friendly neighbor of China,” the embassy said.
On the other hand, the NMC reiterated that tensions stem from China’s actions, not from lawful Philippine activities, and urged Beijing to comply with international law and the arbitral ruling.
“We call on China to abide by international law, particularly UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, to ensure stability in the region,” the council said, adding that the Philippines remains open to constructive dialogue and consultations to peacefully manage disputes.
