China warns Philippines of 'bitter consequences' over South China Sea provocations
Quick Look
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned his Philippine counterpart, Theresa Lazaro, that Manila would face "bitter consequences" if it provoked Beijing with external help, lodging a protest over a recent ramming incident at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea.
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Why It Matters
Relations have been tense between Beijing and Manila in recent years, with frequent clashes in disputed waters of the South China Sea, and Beijing has been on high alert as Manila has sought closer defence and security ties with Washington and Tokyo.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday warned his Philippine counterpart that Manila would “bear the bitter consequences” if it tried to provoke Beijing with the help of other countries.
Wang made the remark as he lodged a “strong protest” during talks with Theresa Lazaro, the Philippines’ top diplomat, in Manila over what he called an “aggressive act of ramming a Chinese law enforcement vessel” at a disputed reef in the South China Sea on Monday.
It was the third day Beijing has protested over the confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal involving a Chinese coastguard vessel and two Philippine Navy rubber boats.
The incident took place a day before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila.
Relations have been tense between Beijing and Manila in recent years, with frequent clashes in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Beijing has also been on high alert as Manila has sought closer defence and security ties with Washington and Tokyo. The Philippines is considered a vital link in the “first island chain” that the United States sees as a way to contain Chinese naval expansion.
Open Questions
- What specific "bitter consequences" does China threaten?
- What was the exact nature of the "aggressive act"?
