Growing Chorus of Philippine Voices Calls for Calm in South China Sea

A Chinese Coast Guard ship sails near a Philippine vessel (R) that was part of a convoy of civilian boats in the disputed South China Sea on December 10, 2023. TED ALJIBE / AFP

While China-Philippines tensions in the South China Sea are at their worst in recent memory, and both sides have dug in their heels, there have been sprouts of a Filipino contingency calling for Manila to rethink the costs of a potential conflict.

These go beyond the government platitudes included in every official statement after the maritime run-ins, calling for peace before lashing out at the other side and reiterating that neither will give one inch.

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by Han Zhen

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