Duterte aide warns of ‘unwanted hostilities’ in South China Sea

MANILA: The presence of Chinese vessels at a disputed reef off the Philippines could ignite “unwanted hostilities”, a top aide to President Rodrigo Duterte warned yesterday, intensifying a diplomatic spat over the ships. More than 200 Chinese boats were first spotted on March 7 at Whitsun Reef, around 320 kilometers (175 nautical miles) west of Palawan Island in the contested South China Sea. Most of them have since scattered across the Spratly Islands, but last week dozens of the Chinese-flagged vessels were still anchored at the boomerang-shaped reef, according to Philippine military patrols. For weeks Manila has called on Beijing to withdraw the “maritime militia” vessels, saying their incursion into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone is unlawful. But China-which claims almost the entirety of the resource-rich sea-has refused, insisting they are fishing boats sheltering from bad weather and are allowed to be there.

Duterte, who has fostered warmer ties with his superpower neighbor since taking office in 2016, has expressed concern to the Chinese ambassador over the ships, according to his spokesman.

Until Monday he had left the tough talking in public to his defense and foreign ministers. But in the strongest remarks yet from his office, Duterte’s top legal counsel Salvador Panelo warned China’s “present territorial incursions is producing an unwelcome stain in their bond and may trigger unwanted hostilities that both countries would rather not pursue.”