Philippines says China ‘biggest disruptor’ of peace in Southeast Asia

China is the biggest disruptor of peace in Southeast Asia, escalating tensions with the Philippines in the South China Sea.

China is the “biggest disruptor” of peace in Southeast Asia, the Philippine defence chief said on Tuesday (August 27, 2024), as tensions between Manila and Beijing over disputed reefs and waters in the South China Sea escalate.

“China... is the biggest disruptor of international peace in the ASEAN region,” Gilberto Teodoro told a conference of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Manila, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Earlier, China deployed “an excessive force” of 40 ships that blocked two Philippine vessels from delivering food and other supplies to Manila’s largest coast guard ship in a disputed shoal in the latest flare-up of their territorial disputes in the South China Sea, Philippine officials said.

China and the Philippines blamed each other for the confrontation on Monday in Sabina Shoal, an uninhabited atoll both countries claim that has become the latest flashpoint in the Spratlys, the most hotly disputed region of the sea passage that is a key global trade and security route.

China and the Philippines have separately deployed coast guard ships to Sabina in recent months on suspicion the other may act to take control of and build structures in the fishing atoll.

The hostilities have particularly intensified between China and the Philippines since last year and Monday’s confrontation was the sixth the two sides have reported in the high seas and in the air. The confrontations have sparked concerns of a larger conflict that could involved the United States, the longtime treaty ally of the Philippines.

The Philippine coast guard said the “excessive force” of Chinese coast guard and navy ships, along with 31 suspected militia vessels, illegally obstructed the delivery of the food supplies, including an ice cream treat for the personnel aboard the BRP Teresa Magbanua as the Philippines marked National Heroes’ Day on Monday.