China Issues Stern Warning to Philippines Over South China Sea Provocations

Tensions in the South China Sea escalated as China’s military issued a stern warning to the Philippines, urging it to halt provocations in the strategic waterway that has long been a hotspot for maritime disputes.

A spokesperson for China’s Southern Theater Command told Reuters: “We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea, as well as bringing in external forces for backing such efforts that are destined to be futile. Any attempt to stir up trouble or disrupt the situation will not succeed.”

The dispute follows a history of clashes between coast guard vessels and large-scale naval exercises in the region, which carries over $3 trillion in annual commerce and is claimed almost entirely by China despite overlapping claims from the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

The warning comes after the US Indo-Pacific Command confirmed joint maritime exercises with Japan and the Philippines in the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone from Thursday to Saturday. The exercises aim to reinforce regional cooperation and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific, including the right to freedom of navigation and overflight under international law.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored Washington’s support for Manila, criticizing China’s actions as part of “destabilizing plans” for a disputed atoll.

The Philippines and Japan have not immediately commented on the situation, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic tensions as major powers navigate competing claims in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.