Citing Chinese exploitation of resources in areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, Philippine President Duterte threatened war with China. “If you monopolize [the oil], there will be trouble…that’s where we’re going to have differences. That’s where you’ll see [Interior Secretary Eduardo] Ano bring a machete there and cut down the Chinese,” declared Duterte. In May, Duterte announced “three red lines” that would lead to war if crossed by China. These lines include Chinese development of the Scarborough Shao, the disruption of trade through the Philippine-held Thitu island in the Spratly chain, and any Chinese exploitation of resources in contested areas of the South China Sea.
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