US Ally's Ominous Warning About China Flashpoint

A Philippines envoy to the United States has warned that the present phase of tensions in the South China Sea could turn into a flashpoint.

Jose Manuel Romualdez, Philippine ambassador to the United States, warned that ongoing skirmishes between Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea could trigger a significant conflict at any moment instead of the Taiwan Strait, which some have described as the hotbed of potential conflict in Asia.

Ambassador Romualdez's warning underscores a growing danger of conflict in the South China Sea, as multiple countries have supported the Philippines.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia Review on Thursday, Romualdez emphasized the gravity of the situation. "The South China Sea is the flashpoint, not Taiwan," he stated, further cautioning that any incident in the region could potentially escalate into a global conflict.

The regional tensions have been escalating, as evidenced by recent incidents. Nikkei Asian Review reported that on Sunday, a Chinese vessel used water cannons and rammed Philippine ships on a resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

This followed a separate incident where Chinese Coast Guard ships reportedly used water cannons against Philippine civilian vessels near Scarborough Shoal.

These developments come weeks after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in California to manage tensions in the critical waterway. Romualdez expressed disappointment in the outcome of the meeting, noting that Xi did not seem receptive to dialogue.

Amidst these rising tensions, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said in an interview with Nikkei in November that several countries , including Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France, are potential participants in multilateral patrols in the South China Sea.

This initiative aims to maintain stability and uphold international maritime rules in the region.

Further highlighting international concern, the ambassador of Japan in the Philippines reported that a telephone conference was held on December 13 between the national security advisors of Japan, the Philippines and the U.S.

The officials expressed grave concern over actions heightening tensions in the South China Sea, specifically citing the recent collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels as a point of contention.

In addition to seeking international cooperation, the Philippines allows the American military access to nine sites across the archipelago. This arrangement is intended to facilitate a quick U.S. response to disasters, humanitarian crises, and potential contingencies in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.