Marcos vows Philippines will assert South China Sea rights after Beijing warning

MANILA, Philippiines — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos vowed Thursday that his government will stand up to "coercion" in the South China Sea, a day after a stern warning by Beijing.

"We shall continue to assert our rights in accordance with the Philippine constitution and international law," he said, adding recent confrontations in the sea were a "demonstration of Filipino courage against coercion and our firm resolve to protect, preserve and uphold our territorial integrity"