'Indian Navy is the only one with b***s...' Philippines envoy to UK reacts on South China Sea clash

Teodoro Locsin Jr, Ambassador of the Philippines to the United Kingdom, has made a significant statement hailing the Indian Navy for holding a naval patrol with his country amid the ongoing tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea.

Taking to social media platform X, Teodoro "Teddy Boy" Lopez Locsin Jr posted: 'The Indian Navy is the only one with the balls to go where it pleases; Western navies sing a cappella like castrati.'

Tensions Escalate at Scarborough Shoal

The envoy's comments followed reports that a Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ship had collided with a Chinese Coast Guard vessel while the latter was harassing a Philippine Coast Guard ship. The incident occurred near the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, where the Philippine vessel was escorting fishing boats.

Earlier in the morning, Teodoro had posted: "Philippine insistence to sail its own waters is powered almost entirely by Filipino b***s; we have no military ally at all. Zero. Only Indian had the b***s to join a patrol. Makes you wonder if North America had remained in native Indian hands would it stand by us, its former colony? Oh, I forgot; that idea is buried in Wounded Knee.

The joint patrol, the first ever between India and the Philippines in the South China Sea, involved the Indian Navy ships INS Delhi, INS Kiltan, and INS Shakti and the Philippine Navy's BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Miguel Malvar. The exercises included combat drills focused on surface, air, and anti-submarine warfare. According to Philippine state media, two PLA Navy warships shadowed the exercises.

The South China Sea is a vital shipping route, with $3 trillion in annual commerce passing through its waters. While a 2016 international arbitral tribunal ruled against China's sweeping claims in the region, Beijing has rejected the decision.

Bolstering India-Philippines Ties

India's involvement in the joint patrol signifies a notable shift in New Delhi's relationship with Manila, which has been strengthening through increased defense and economic cooperation. This includes India's first foreign export of the BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles to the Philippines, with Manila positioning its first missile base near the contested Scarborough Shoal.

The joint patrols are part of the Philippines' strategy to demonstrate support for its position amid increasingly assertive Chinese actions. Philippine Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr confirmed that the recent joint sail took place within the country's exclusive economic zone. In the past, Chinese naval and coast guard ships have kept watch from a distance during joint patrols with other foreign navies, but their activities in the area have recently intensified.