📷China’s defense minister Dong Jun |NBC news
AMID an impending formation of an alliance of countries siding with the Philippines, China’s defense minister Dong Jun warned of what he aptly referred to as “limits” to Beijing’s restraint on the South China Sea.
Dong, who took part in the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, likewise took a swipe at the deployment of ballistic missiles in the Asia-Pacific region and the series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels near disputed reefs.
“China has maintained sufficient restraint in the face of rights infringements and provocation, but there are limits to this,” Dong said during the forum.
He also finds the deployment of “medium-range ballistic missiles” as disturbing as it “severely damages regional security and stability,” in reference to the deployment of a Mid-Range Capability missile system capable of firing the Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) and the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile in the northern Philippines for annual joint military exercises, locally referred to as Balikatan.
For the longest time, the Philippines and the United States have been allies with the latter giving a premium on Manila as strategic in Washington’s efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region, for which China got angry.
“Acting in this way will ultimately burn oneself,” Dong further warned.
Marcos however stood firm and said that the Philippines would not give in to Chinese pressure – “Illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdictions.”
“I do not intend to yield, Filipinos do not yield,” the Philippine President concluded. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
