Thitu Island: Duterte warns he will send troops on 'suicide mission' if China threatens disputed territory

‘I will not plead or beg, but I’m just telling you lay off Pag-asa because I have soldiers there,’ warns Philippine president

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte (EPA)

Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte has warned he will send his troops on a “suicide mission” if Beijing does not “lay off” a disputed island in the South China Sea.

The leader spoke out on Thursday after the Philippine military spotted more than 200 Chinese vessels near the Manila-occupied Thitu Island, known as Pag-asa in Filipino, between January and March.

He said: “I will not plead or beg, but I’m just telling you lay off Pag-asa because I have soldiers there.

“If you touch it, that’s another story. Then I will tell my soldiers ‘prepare for suicide missions’.”

Mr Duterte said his comments were a “word of advice” to the Philippines’ “friend” China rather than a “warning”.

He reminded China that it had closer ties with the Philippines under his leadership, but that “things would be different” if the country did not stay away from the islands.

His comments came as the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs claimed the Chinese presence was illegal.

Six governments, including Manila and Beijing, have fought for control of territory in the disputed waters – an important shipping lane where huge oil and gas reserves are believed to lie deep beneath the seabed.

Tensions have risen since the beginning of 2019 as the Philippines and China claim overlapping areas of the sea and both claim Thitu as part of their territory.

Mr Duterte has mostly adopted a non-confrontational approach in territorial spats with Beijing as it seeks Chinese infrastructure funds, trade and investment.

While often lashing out at the security policies of the United States, a treaty ally, the president has praised China and Russia.

Associated Press contributed to this report