Philippines Urges China to Respect Its Sovereignty Amid Rising Tensions

The Philippines calls on China to respect its sovereignty, emphasizing that its decisions are rooted in national interest. Manila criticizes China's disregard for international law and its aggressive behavior at sea, urging all countries to mitigate regional tensions.

The Philippine government has urged China to recognize the country's independence, asserting that all actions and decisions made by Manila are influenced by national interest and not external pressures, as communicated by the Philippines' foreign ministry on Monday.

In a pointed statement, the ministry noted that the 'real issue is China's refusal to abide by international law,' highlighting how China's 'illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive behaviour at sea' has adversely impacted Filipino communities.

Furthermore, the ministry called on the international community to exercise caution and avoid actions and words that could escalate regional tensions.

(With inputs from agencies.)