SINGAPORE – On the opening day of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos issued a stern warning to China. In his speech, Marcos emphasized the Philippines’ determination not to surrender a single square millimeter of the South China Sea, which is internationally recognized as the West Philippine Sea. He urged China to respect international laws and to relinquish its territorial claims in the disputed sea.

The president forcefully stated that the killing of a Filipino in the territorial disputes would constitute a crossing of the Rubicon by China, which he would consider an act of war. Marcos stressed that he expects the Philippines’ allies, especially the United States with whom a military agreement exists, to share this interpretation and to provide support in the event of a military confrontation.

The president’s emphatic words reflect the escalating tension in the region and highlight the importance of the Shangri-La Dialogue as a platform for security discussions in Asia. (zai)