Philippine President Bolsters Naval Security Amid Rising Tensions with China

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered his government to enhance coordination on maritime security to address "a range of serious challenges" threatening territorial integrity and peace amid escalating disputes with China. The order, signed on Monday and announced on Sunday, does not explicitly mention China, but it follows a series of maritime confrontations and mutual accusations over a disputed area in the South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, with overlapping claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, a permanent arbitration court ruled that China's claims have no legal basis. The most recent incidents of violence occurred last weekend when China used water cannons to obstruct a Philippine resupply mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, where troops guard a warship that deliberately grounded on the reef 25 years ago. Marcos stated in the order: "Despite efforts to enhance stability and security in our maritime domain, the Philippines continues to face a range of serious challenges threatening territorial integrity as well as the peaceful coexistence of Filipinos." The president also pledged on Thursday to implement countermeasures against "illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" by the Chinese coast guard.