Rodrigo Duterte stated that the death of his country's soldiers could become a red line for him amid the dispute over the South China Sea, according to Hermogenes Esperon.
"Or, if our people are hurt there at Pag-asa Island. We are not saying we are going to war, but if they oppress us that may force our hand, because we will not allow ourselves to be oppressed," he added as quoted by the Daily Mail.
Earlier this month, White House announced that the United States had spoken directly to China about continued militarization in the South China Sea, promising short- and long-term consequences.
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In 2016, an international tribunal in The Hague ruled that Beijing's claims to sovereignty over South China Sea waters had no legal basis. China denied the court ruling and argued that the tribunal had no jurisdiction in the case.
