The Philippines will take “all appropriate actions to cause the removal of barriers” in a disputed area of the South China Sea, the country’s national security advisor said on Monday.
The Philippines on Sunday shared images of a floating barrier blocking fishing vessel access in the Scarborough Shoal with Chinese coast guard ships nearby, and said it would protect the rights of its fishermen.
“We condemn the installation of floating barriers by Chinese coast guard,” national security adviser Eduardo Año said in a statement.
“The placement by the People’s Republic of China of a barrier violates the traditional fishing rights of our fishermen,” he added.
In diplomatic speak, this is actually very strong language.
As an example one of the most extreme diplomatic phrases would be “x country has committed an unfriendly act”
Where do you think the saying “diplomatically speaking” comes from?
When the words you say can end in people dying or economic ruin, it makes you somewhat strongly consider exactly which words you should say.
In order to avoid… more aggressive negotiations from occurring.
The fact that their statement is clearly committing them to removing the barrier is strong language especially with the military power imbalance between the Phillipines and China.
China in the South China Sea is a bit like a 4 year old seeing what they can get away with.