Philippines President Orders Armed Forces to De-Escalate Tensions in South China Sea
In a significant move aimed at reducing conflict in the South China Sea, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to de-escalate tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea. This directive comes in response to a series of confrontations and increasing hostilities in the contested waters, which have long been a flashpoint in Philippines-China relations. General Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff, conveyed the president’s orders during a recent news briefing following a high-level conference with Marcos. Brawner emphasized that the rules of engagement were clearly laid out, underscoring the president's guidance for troops to avoid escalating the situation on the ground or at sea. “The guidance also of our President to our troops is not to escalate the situation on the ground or on the seas so to speak,” Brawner stated. Marcos expressed his appreciation for the Filipino soldiers, acknowledging the difficulty of...
