The Philippines on Thursday told China to “back off” after three Chinese Coast Guard vessels illegally blocked and discharged water cannons on boats that were carrying supply to a military post on a Philippine-occupied atoll in the South China Sea. Acting Presidential Spokesman Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, in a statement on Thursday, said the Philippines condemns and will not back down from Chinese provocation. “As we have done in the past, we will continue to assert our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over our territory,” he said.

Tan, A. N. O. (2021, November 19). PHL tells China to 'back off' after boat attack. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.