(VIDEO GRAB FROM PCG)
MANILA, Philippines — The scenario that World War III could break out as a result of the country’s policy in the West Philippine Sea is “illogical” and “preposterous,” Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea said on monday.
Tarriela made the remark after columnist Anna Malindog-Uy claimed that the United States is pushing the Philippines to provoke China.
“The Philippines has agency,” Tarriela said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
“It is not under any external pressure to expose China’s coercion and blatant violation of international law.”
Uy, in a video interview uploaded by Chinese tabloid Global Times on Monday, said: “A third country like the United States come into the picture, and push and push the Philippines — to provoke China for that matter — a third World War is possible.”
“It is illogical to argue that the Philippines’ policy of exposing China’s bad behavior at sea would lead to a ‘third world war.’ It is a preposterous claim lacking empirics,” stressed Tarriela.
Tarriela also said that the Philippines is committed to maintaining peace and stability and the country’s “transparency initiative” is geared towards this goal.
“Exposing China’s aggressive behavior, illegal presence, and bullying tactics in the West Philippine Sea is aimed at supporting the Philippines’ principled position – that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means in accordance with international law,” he said.
The China Coast Guard has repeatedly obstructed maritime activities of Manila in Ayungin Shoal and Scarborough Shoal.
Their actions are based on Beijing’s assertion of ownership in almost the entire South China Sea—which includes most of the West Philippine Sea—a claim which was effectively dismissed by a 2016 international tribunal ruling.
Tarriela also noted that it has been China’s strategy to change the status quo in the West Philippine Sea “by coercion and erode the established rules-based order.
“Any nation worthy of its name will resist when its sovereignty and sovereign rights are being taken away,” he added.