Escalation of South China Sea Sovereignty Dispute with Insults
Chinese Embassy in the Philippines Refrains from Commenting
[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs has sparked an international controversy by posting a tweet containing insults and derogatory remarks about China. The escalation of the South China Sea maritime sovereignty dispute, coupled with domestic and international criticism of the Rodrigo Duterte administration’s previously China-friendly policies, appears to have led to these harsh expressions against China.
On the 3rd (local time), according to foreign media including the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), Teodoro Locsin, the Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs, posted on his Twitter account, "China, my friend, I don’t know how politely I can say this," followed by insults such as "Get lost! China is an ugly fool demanding attention from a handsome man who wants to be friends." Regarding these insults, the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Philippines, reportedly has not responded to requests for comments from foreign media.
Locsin’s insulting tweet has drawn international attention amid the intensifying dispute between the two countries over sovereignty in the South China Sea. Since late February, over 200 Chinese fishing vessels have anchored at Whitsun Reef, located within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, illegally occupying the coral reef area, which has further escalated the dispute.
The Philippine government has demanded the withdrawal of Chinese vessels, accusing China of infringing on its maritime sovereignty. However, the Chinese government has refused to comply, claiming that the fishing boats are merely sheltering near the coral reef to avoid a storm. In response, the Philippine government has deployed coast guard ships to the nearby waters since the 4th of last month to conduct patrols, and President Duterte has threatened to dispatch naval vessels, signaling a tough stance.
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