Philippines Defies China’s Warning, Vows to Assert Maritime Rights in South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has dismissed China’s warning against conducting oil and gas exploration in the disputed South China Sea, saying that his country will assert its sovereign rights and interests in the resource-rich waters. Marcos made the remarks on Monday, after China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said last week that Beijing “firmly opposes” any unilateral actions by …