Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela characterized Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan's comments as a direct threat, stating that refraining from military force while violating maritime rights constitutes coercion.

The overlapping territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, principally between China and Southeast Asian states including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia, encompassing disputed islands, reefs and shoals, and the naval, coastguard and diplomatic confrontations arising from them.