Marcos: Philippines Not Looking For Trouble With China, Vows to Defend Against Incursions

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said he would protect against Chinese incursions into his exclusive economic zone. Earvin Perias / POOL / AFP

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. issued a conciliatory yet firm message to China that his country does not want to provoke a confrontation over disputed territories in the South China Sea, but he will do what’s necessary to protect its waters.

The President on Friday made his first remarks since Chinese maritime forces purportedly laid a 300 meter barrier near a disputed shoal that the Philippine Coast Guard later cut.

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