MANILA [Philippines], Philippine President Bonabong Marcos on Monday ruled out using water cannons on Philippine ships transiting the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and said the island nation will not respond to China's attacks on Philippine maritime vessels. , The Manila Times reported that the president said he would prefer to continue responding to incidents in the South China Sea through diplomatic channels, adding that the "last thing" the Philippines wanted was to "escalate tensions" in the disputed waters. His statement comes in the wake of recent water cannon attacks by China. Manila Times, citing a Philippines Coast Guard spokesperson, said Manila wanted to expose China and seek international condemnation for Beijing's actions in the South China Sea, which violates the strategic waterway ensuring freedom of navigation. To encourage united efforts. What we are doing is protecting our sovereign rights and our sovereignty in the WPS and we have no intention of attacking anyone with water cannons or any offensive (equipment),” Marcos said in a statement. The Manila Times reported that China recently sent hundreds of Coast Guard personnel along with ships to press its claims to the vital waterway, even though an international tribunal had ruled that its claims to the route are illegal.Asked whether the Philippines would initiate a confrontation using WAT guns, the President said, "We will not pursue the Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese ships down that road, that is the mission of our Navy, our Corps Guard to initiate or initiate Not there." To escalate tensions, he also said that the country would continue to assert its rights in the WPS, but that it would not use any "offensive weapons" against anyone. Last week, Manila summoned a senior Chinese envoy in protest against "harassment, mob lynching". Shadowing and interception, dangerous maneuvers, (and) use of water cannons by Chinese coast guard vessels against Philippine boats near the disputed Ayungin Shoal" In addition, there is a mutual defense treaty between the US and the Philippines, and the Chinese coast guard and The confrontation between the PCG has heightened speculation over US intervention in the event of another serious confrontation, with a senator from the island nation Jinggoy Estrada also supporting the president's decision, saying that "rather than resorting to retaliatory measures, we Will claim their rights through diplomatic channels. We have lodged a sustained diplomatic protest to address China's aggression in our territorial waters, the Manila Times reports.