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"We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that
purport and claim to be our friends but we will not be cowed
into silence, submission, or subservience," Marcos said on
Facebook.
He did not specify what the countermeasures would include.
The Philippines has been furious in the past year over what it
calls repeated aggression by China's coastguard and allied
fishing vessels around disputed features located inside Manila's
200-mile exclusive economic zone.
The latest flare-up occurred last week, when China used water
cannon to disrupt another Philippine resupply mission to the
Second Thomas Shoal for soldiers posted to guard a warship
intentionally grounded on a reef 25 years ago.
China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea as its
own, has accused the Philippines of encroaching on its territory
and says it took necessary measures against the vessels.
China warned the Philippines on Monday to behave cautiously and
seek dialogue, saying their relations were at a "crossroads" as
confrontations between their coastguards over maritime claims
worsened tensions.
Marcos said he met his defense and security officials and has
been in communication with "friends in the international
community".
"They have offered to help us on what the Philippines requires
to protect and secure our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and
jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the
Indo-Pacific," Marcos said.
The deterioration in relations with China come at a time when
Marcos seeks to deepen defense ties with the United States. He
has increased U.S. access to Philippine military bases and joint
exercises have been expanded to include sea and air patrols over
the South China Sea, vexing Beijing.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday reaffirmed
Washington's commitment to a 1951 mutual defense treaty with the
Philippines and criticized as "dangerous" China's actions at the
Second Thomas Shoal.
In a phone call on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart
Gilberto Teodoro, Austin "reaffirmed the ironclad U.S.
commitment to the Philippines" which it said was undertaking a
lawful resupply mission.
The Philippine-U.S. treaty binds both countries to defend each
other if under attack and includes coastguard, civilian and
military vessels in the South China Sea.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty)
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