Philippine Pres. stresses peaceful dispute settlement

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Sunday that his country does not seek war since it is in favour of peaceful resolution. Marcos made the statement amid growing naval tensions between his country and China. He added that his country will not be intimidated by anyone after a violent clash between the country's navy and the Chinese coast guard in the South China Sea. This speech came during his visit to the headquarters of the Philippines' South China Sea forces on Palawan Island, emphasizing that Manila would not yield to any foreign power. President Marcos urged Filipino sailors to continue to fulfill duty of defending the nation, pledging to continue exercising freedoms and rights in support of national interests, in accordance with international law. The Philippine military reported that China's coast guard, armed with knives and spears, "deliberately punctured" Philippine boats, severely injuring a Filipino sailor in the clash. The South China Sea, a vital route for over USD three trilli on (Âpound 2.8 trillion) in annual shipborne commerce, is contested by Beijing and several Southeast Asian states. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague stated that China's claims have no legal basis, a decision that Beijing rejects. Source: Kuwait News Agency