Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr has suggested his country’s stand-off with China could spiral into war if a Filipino citizen were killed in what have been increasingly violent confrontations with the Chinese coast guard.Asked how his government would react if Chinese coast guard actions caused the death of a Filipino serviceman, Marcos said: “If not only a serviceman but even a Filipino citizen is killed by a wilful act, that is very close to what we define as an act of war.”
Marcos said at an international defence forum in Singapore that the US, which has a mutual defence treaty with the Philippines, held “to the same standards”. The president’s comments marked the first time he has suggested scenarios that could trigger a request for help under the 1951 treaty.
Since August last year, Chinese coast guard ships have repeatedly used water cannon against Philippine ships resupplying a military outpost in disputed waters of the South China Sea, damaging vessels and injuring Filipino sailors.