Overview

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vows to implement countermeasures against China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea.
• Recent confrontations include water cannon attacks by Chinese coast guard vessels on Philippine resupply missions.
• The U.S. reaffirms its commitment to defend the Philippines under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, extending to incidents in the South China Sea.
• China accuses the Philippines of provocations and misinformation, warning against further escalation.
• Polls in the Philippines show increasing concern over South China Sea tensions, with many favoring military action to assert territorial rights.