Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr warns China against crossing a red line in the South China Sea, stating that any harm to Filipinos due to China’s actions would be considered close to “an act of war.”
This statement was made during a security forum in Singapore attended by defense chiefs from various countries, including the US and China. China responded by accusing the Philippines of deflecting blame and making provocations.
Tensions have heightened in recent months, with aggressive clashes occurring between the two nations over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Observers fear that escalation could lead to a conflict involving China and the US, as the US is obligated by treaty to defend the Philippines.
Both the US and China have expressed interest in improving communication to avoid conflict, with the US working to resume telephone conversations between military commanders and establish a crisis communications working group.
