Tag: Paracel Islands

Philippines warns China of ‘severest response’ over drills in South China Sea
Politics

Philippines warns China of ‘severest response’ over drills in South China Sea

Philippines has warned of “the severest response” if ongoing Chinese military exercises in the disputed South China Sea spill over into Philippine territory.Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said, “China’s People’s Liberation Army has been staging exercises off the Paracel Islands since July 1 and Chinese maritime officials have prohibited all vessels from navigating within the area of the maneuvers.”After checking the coordinates of the Chinese-declared no-entry zone where the maneuvers were being staged, Locsin said the waters off the Paracels, which are also claimed by Vietnam, “do not impinge on Philippine territory” but it was still a concern.“Should the exercises spill over to Philippine territory, then China is forewarned that it will be met with the severest response, diplomatic