The Department of National Defense said that China's actions against the Philippines demonstrate a lack of willingness to conduct open, transparent, and legal negotiations in the West Philippine Sea.

In a statement released on Good Friday, the DND slammed China for its isolationism and condemned what it describes as "illegal and uncivilized activities" in the disputed region.

"China’s defense ministry statement clearly reflects their isolation from the rest of the world on their illegal and uncivilized activities in the West Philippine Sea," DND said.

"It also shows the inability of the Chinese Government to conduct open, transparent, and legal negotiations. Their repertoire consists only of patronizing and, failing that, intimidating smaller countries," it added.

Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian, as reported by the Chinese newspaper Global Times, blamed the recent escalation of the South China Sea issue on the Philippines' "harassment and provocations," citing the Southeast Asian country as the primary reason for the heightened tensions.

"It (Philippines) is straying further down a dangerous path. The Chinese side will not allow the Philippines to act willfully," Wu was quoted as saying.

However, DND said that while Filipinos are not globally recognized as aggressors, they stand ready to take action when the sovereignty of the country is threatened.

“The world has seen and knows that the Filipino people are not aggressors. We will never seek a fight or trouble. Neither will we be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience. We do not yield. We are Filipinos,” the DND said.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Maundy Thursday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that relevant national government agencies and instrumentalities would enact a "countermeasure" in response to what he described as the "open, unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks" carried out by the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia (CMM).

The CCG and CMM vessels have persistently attempted to obstruct the resupply missions conducted by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

This shoal houses the Philippine Navy warship, BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded to function as an outpost and symbol of Philippine sovereignty over the area.

The resupply missions aim to provide essential provisions to the troops stationed at the outpost. However, recent supply runs have resulted in injuries to Filipino military personnel.

During the resupply missions on 5 March and 23 March alone, seven Filipino personnel sustained injuries. This occurred when CCG vessels deployed water cannons against civilian supply boats carrying the troops tasked with delivering food to the guardians of the BRP Sierra Madre outpost at the shoal.