South China Sea: Marcos Jnr’s late response to clash marks Manila’s muted stance, diplomacy

Manila and Beijing have been locked in a months-long territorial row in the South China Sea. China’s coastguard also reportedly seized two lifeboats from the Philippine vessel.

At the Western Mindanao Command on the island of Palawan, Marcos in a surprise visit on Sunday told troops to continue fulfilling their duty with integrity and respect, noting: “We refuse to play by the rules that force us to choose sides in a great power competition.

“And that is why, in defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully,” he said. “But at the same time, we stand firm. Our calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence.”

Bersamin said they had not considered elevating the matter to a higher international body, adding the council did not classify the incident as an armed attack and had proposed policy recommendations to the president.

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“I see the time it took the president to respond as an attempt to tone down the narrative and avoid talking about responses and ‘red lines’ that would benefit no one at this juncture, while reinstating his stance,” Piasentini said.

The Philippine government can anticipate incidents of similar severity, according to Piasentini, as China is expected to persist with its “grey-zone tactics”.

The timeline for Marcos’ response underscored the complexity of the issue, said political analyst Edmund Tayao, president and CEO of the Political Economic Elemental Researchers and Strategists think tank.

“Any president … should take careful note that as much possible, peaceful means should be exhausted … War should always be avoided,” Tayao told