The killing of a Filipino serviceman or citizen by a willful act in the West Philippine Sea will come very close to an act of war, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday, as he warned that the Philippines will respond accordingly should that happen.

The Philippine leader was responding to a question following his keynote address the IISS Shangri-la dialogue Friday as to what actions will push Manila to invoke its Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, and whether the death of a Filipino sailor as a result of China’s use of water cannons would cross the red line.

“Well, that would be --- that would certainly increase the level of response and if by a willful act on a Filipino, not only serviceman but even a Filipino citizen by... If a Filipino citizen is killed by a willful act, that is I think a very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly,” Marcos said.

“And our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard for when the actions, with the joint action will be undertaken in support of any such incident in the Philippines,” he added.

The statement comes as the Philippines accused China of “elevating tensions and level of aggression” of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea with its use of water cannons. 

Last March, at least 3 Philippine troops were injured after a water cannon attack by Chinese Coast Guard vessels attempting to block a Philippine resupply mission in the West Philippine Sea.

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“We already have suffered injury, but thank God, we have not yet gotten to the point where any of our participants, civilian or otherwise have been killed,” Marcos replied.

“But once we get to that point, that is certainly we would have cross the Rubicon and certainly cross the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly it’s going to be a red line,” he added.

 Marcos, in his speech at Asia’s top defense forum, slammed what he calls as
“illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions” that continue to violate the Philippines’ “sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction.”

This, as he stated that the Philippines remains unyielding in protecting its maritime rights which have been affirmed by international law.

“In this solid footing and through our clear moral ascendancy, we find the strength to do whatever it takes to protect our sovereign home -- to the last square inch, to the last square millimeter,” Marcos said.

“The life-giving waters of the West Philippine Sea flow in the blood of every Filipino.
We cannot allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole,” he added.

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