Philippine president says killing of a Filipino in South China Sea clash would be ‘very close’ to act of war

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said should such an incident happen by willful action, it would "increase the level of response [by the Philippines]."
• Marcos said the Philippines is still committed to addressing and managing difficult issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

Should a Filipino citizen be killed in the South China Sea via an incident with the Chinese Coast Guard, it would "almost certainly" be a red line, according to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos was delivering the keynote at the Shangri-La address in Singapore when he was asked a question if a "red line" would be crossed if Chinese Coast Guard water cannons killed a Filipino sailor, and under what circumstances would the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty be invoked.

The president said should such an incident happen by willful action, it would "increase the level of response [by the Philippines]," and come "very, very close to what we define as an act of war."

He added that "our treaty partners I believe, also hold that same standard," with regard to any joint action that will be undertaken in support of any such incident in the Philippines.

In late March, the Philippines accused a China Coast Guard vessel of utilizing its water cannon on a Filipino ship travelling to the Second Thomas Shoal, injuring three Filipino sailors. In response, China's coastguard said it had taken necessary measures against Philippine vessels intruding in its waters.

Earlier that month, the China Coast Guard was accused of a water cannon attack that left four Filipino crew members injured by broken glass.

Manila deploys resupply missions to the shoal to supply a small garrison of troops living aboard an aging warship deliberately run aground in