Single mistake can trigger SCS conflict – Marcos

MELBOURNE – A single mistake or a misunderstood move could lead to a conflict in the South China Sea, President Marcos said, as he expressed support for efforts to maintain peace in the disputed area while easing up the rhetoric of parties involved in the maritime row.

In an interview with ABC News aired last Monday, Marcos expressed support for diplomatic partnerships Quad and AUKUS, saying these represent a stronger front in maintaining the peace in the South China Sea.

Quad is a partnership among Australia, India, Japan and the US that seeks to promote an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. AUKUS, meanwhile, is a trilateral security partnership among Australia, the UK and US, whose initiatives include supporting Canberra in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.

“It is a response really to a differing situation and more dangerous, more risky situation than we had before,” Marcos said.

When asked why he thought the situation in the region has become more dangerous, the President replied: “Because the potential for outright conflict is much higher now than it was before.”

“And we worry in the Philippines because it could come from not a strategic decision by anyone, saying OK, we’re going to war, but just by making some servicemen making a mistake or some action that’s misunderstood,” he added.

Such a possibility, Marcos pointed out, is the reason why the ongoing attempt is “to try and lower the temperature, ease up on the rhetoric and communicate and just continue to communicate.”

Marcos recalled his visit to China last year, where he proposed the establishment of a hotline between him and Chinese President Xi Jinping to prevent untoward incidents in the South China Sea. The President, however, revealed that he does not have a personal line with his Chinese counterpart yet.

Asked if he expects the Australian Navy to come to the defense of the Philippines in the event of a conflict with China over the South China Sea, Marcos noted that Manila does not have a formal agreement or treaty with Canberra similar to what it has with Washington.

Australia is one of the two countries with which the Philippines has a visiting forces