As Philippines stands ground in sea, Twitter tirade issued

MANILA: The Philippine foreign minister yesterday demanded in an expletivelaced message on Twitter that China’s vessels get out of disputed waters, marking the latest exchange in a war of words with Beijing over its activities in the South China Sea.

The comments by Teodoro Locsin, known for making blunt remarks, follow Manila’s protests for what it calls the ‘‘illegal’’ presence of hundreds of Chinese boats inside the Philippines 322km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

‘‘China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see . . . O . . . GET THE F... OUT,’’ Locsin said in a tweet on his personal account.

‘‘What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We’re trying. You. You’re like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese province . . .’’

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chinese officials have previously said the vessels at the disputed Whitsun Reef were fishing boats taking refuge from rough seas.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $NZ4 trillion of marine trade passes each year.

In 2016, an arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled the claim was inconsistent with international law.

In a statement yesterday, the Philippine foreign ministry accused China’s coast guard of ‘‘shadowing, blocking, dangerous manoeuvres, and radio challenges of the Philippine coast guard vessels’’. Philippine officials believe the Chinese vessels have militia crews.

Earlier yesterday, the Philippines vowed to continue maritime exercises in its EEZ in the sea in response to a China demand that it stop actions it said could escalate disputes.

As of April 26, the Philippines has filed 78 diplomatic protests to China since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016, foreign ministry data shows. — Reuters