Tensions erupt in South China Sea as China told to expect retaliation if it makes key move

Confrontations between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea have spiked (Image: Getty)

The Philippines has issued a strong warning to China amid mounting tensions in the contested South China Sea. Manila’s defence secretary said the Philippines and its security allies would be ready to take measures to counter any attempt by China to restrict flights in airspace it regards as its own over the strategic waters.

Gilberto Teodoro said officials have discussed the possibility of Beijing imposing a so-called Air Defense Identification Zone or any exclusion zone to restrict foreign aircraft movement, following confrontations between Chinese aircraft and those of his country, Australia and the United States. He said: “That is a very serious transgression of international law, which will demand our response. The Philippines will take a combination of measures singularly and with like-minded nations to counteract.

China has built artificial islands in the South China Sea - a crucial trade route for global shipping (Image: Getty)

“We have formulated contingency measures to respond or to have proper courses of action.”

Mr Teodoro did not elaborate further but warned China’s increasing aggression in the disputed waters is a major threat.

He warned: “The greatest external threat actually is Chinese aggression, Chinese expansionism and the attempt by China to change the international law through the use of force or acquiescence…or its attempt to reshape the world order to one that it controls.”

There was no immediate reaction by Chinese officials following Mr Teodoro’s comments.

The South China Sea is a vital trade route for global supply chains, with Beijing claiming almost all of it.

China’s claims are not supported by international law and are disputed by other nations.

Confrontations over the South China Sea have spiked between Chinese and Philippine forces in the last two years.

Last month, a Chinese navy helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of a Philippine patrol turbo-prop plane it warned had encroached in what Beijing calls its airspace over the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

This prompted the Filipino pilot to warn by radio: “You are flying too close, you are very dangerous.”

There have also been incidents between China and US and Australian forces.

Australia in February accused China’s military of unsafe and unprofessional” conduct following an incident over the South China Sea.

The Australian government said a Chinese J-16 fighter released flares close to one of its maritime patrol aircraft, posing a risk to the plane and its crew.

China claimed the Australian aircraft was "deliberately intruding" into its airspace and "jeopardising" its national security.

Meanwhile, China has embarked on a war of words with the US after Donald Trump slapped the nation with crippling trade tariffs.

The Chinese embassy in Washington wrote on X: "If war is what the US wants, be it a tariff war, a trade war or any other type of war, we’re ready to fight till the end."