EditorialBeijing and Manila both stand to lose in crisis
- Calm heads required as latest face-off in South China Sea dispute raises fears confrontation may escalate
When the president of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, visited China in January, the two countries pledged to cooperate and resolve their differences peacefully. That promise needs to be honoured now, amid the latest clash over the South China Sea.
Chinese coastguard vessels blocked and fired water cannons at a ship from the Philippines this month, preventing it from supplying marines on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
Manila summoned China’s envoy, branding the actions dangerous and in breach of international law. Several Western governments, including the United States, condemned China’s conduct.
Beijing insisted its forces acted in a professional and restrained way, arguing the Philippines had disregarded warnings. It has called on Manila to remove a World War II era ship, deliberately grounded in 1999, on which the marines are based.
The incident has raised fears that the confrontation may escalate. Both sides need to calm down. Peace and stability in the region are at stake.