Philippines foreign minister issues expletive-laced tweet over China sea dispute

(Story contains graphic language in paragraph 3 some may find
offensive.)
MANILA, May 3 (Reuters) - The Philippine foreign minister on
Monday demanded in an expletive-laced message on Twitter that
China's vessels get out of disputed waters, marking the latest
exchange in a war of words with Beijing over its activities in
the South China Sea.
The comments by Teodoro Locsin, known for making blunt
remarks at times, follow Manila's protests for what it calls the
"illegal" presence of hundreds of Chinese boats inside the
Philippines 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
"China, my friend, how politely can I put it? Let me see…
O…GET THE FUCK OUT," Locsin said in a tweet on his personal
account.
"What are you doing to our friendship? You. Not us. We're
trying. You. You're like an ugly oaf forcing your attentions on
a handsome guy who wants to be a friend; not to father a Chinese
province…", Locsin said.
China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a
request for comment. Chinese officials have previously said the
vessels at the disputed Whitsun Reef were fishing boats taking
refuge from rough seas.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through
which about $3 trillion of ship-borne trade passes each year. In
2016, an arbitration tribunal in The Hague ruled the claim,
which Beijing bases on its old maps, was inconsistent with
international law.
In a statement on Monday, the Philippine foreign ministry
accused China's coast guard of "shadowing, blocking, dangerous
manoeuvres, and radio challenges of the Philippine coast guard
vessels."
Philippine officials believe the Chinese vessels are manned
by militia.
On Sunday, the Philippines vowed to continue maritime
exercises in its EEZ in the South China Sea in response to a
China demand that it stop actions it said could escalate
disputes.
As of April 26, the Philippines had filed 78 diplomatic
protests to China since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in
2016, foreign ministry data shows.
"Our statements are stronger too because of the more brazen
nature of the activities, the number, frequency and proximity of
intrusions," Marie Yvette Banzon-Abalos, executive director for
strategic communications at the foreign ministry, said.
Duterte for the most part has pursued warmer ties with China
in exchange for Beijing's promises of billions of dollars in
investment, aid and loans.
While the Philippine leader still considers China "a good
friend", he said last week: "There are things that are not
really subject to a compromise."