A top Philippine security official stated Friday that the Philippines will "stand our ground" in its dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea, marking eight years since an international ruling against China in the territorial contest.

Tensions over this strategic waterway, a crucial route for sea-borne trade, have escalated significantly over the past 18 months due to a series of confrontations between Philippine and Chinese ships.

While the countries agreed last week to "de-escalate tensions" over the disputed reefs and waters, Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo Ano said Friday that Manila would not back down.

"We will continue to stand our ground and push back against coercion, interference, malign influence, and other tactics that seek to jeopardize our security and stability," Ano said at an event celebrating the anniversary of the ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration.

Deteriorating China-Philippines relations

The Philippines filed a case against China in 2013, and three years later, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in Manila's favor, declaring China's claims had no legal basis. 

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office in 2016, set aside the ruling in favor of warmer ties with China. However, this stance changed when Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos was elected in 2022, insisting he would not let China "trample on Manila's maritime rights."

Since then, diplomatic relations between Manila and Beijing have deteriorated, as the Marcos administration criticized "Chinese actions". As per the administration, China deploys coast guard and other vessels to patrol waters around reefs, including the Second Thomas Shoal, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan and more than 1,000 kilometers from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.

Deepening cooperation with US-Japan

Earlier this year, several instances indicated the deteriorating relations between the Philipines and China, starting with the US deployment of intermediate-range missiles in the country, which China condemned, describing it as a potential threat to regional security. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on June 6, "The deployment is a move to turn back the wheel of history, and it gravely threatens regional countries’ security, undermines regional peace and stability." 

Earlier in May, the Philippines purchased five coast guard patrol ships from Japan in a multifaceted deal worth more than $400 million. Japan was set to loan the Philippines 64.38 billion yen ($413 million) to buy five 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) and the required support facilities, Manila's Foreign Ministry explained in a statement on May 17.