PHILIPPINES, Dec 20: On Wednesday, the Philippine defense minister, Gilberto Teodoro, criticized China for accusing his country of instigating tension in the South China Sea, asserting that only Beijing subscribed to such a belief. Teodoro stated, "Truth and, no country in the world, none, supports unequivocally their claim to the whole of South China Sea." This exchange of rebukes follows recent collisions in the region.

China asserts nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital passage for over $3 trillion in annual commercial shipping. This claim overlaps with territories contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China's claims lacked legal basis, a stance supported by the United States but rejected by Beijing.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila offered no immediate comment on Teodoro's statements. Approximately a week ago, both nations traded accusations regarding a collision involving their vessels in the South China Sea, with China attributing the incidents entirely to the Philippines.

In response to these events, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need for a "paradigm shift" in addressing the South China issue, expressing dissatisfaction with the current diplomatic direction with China. Tensions between the Philippines and China have escalated under Marcos, who has criticized China's perceived "aggressive" behavior while seeking closer ties with the United States, a treaty ally of Manila.

Marcos affirmed that the Philippines will engage in discussions with its Indo-Pacific partners to formulate a joint position on their responsibilities in the West Philippines Sea, the term the country uses for the portion of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.