PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday that he had no choice but to defend his country's territory in the South China Sea against what he called Chinese aggression, and he might even 'push back ties' if Beijing continues to trample upon Philippine interests.

'It is unfortunate that despite the clarity provided by international law, provocative, unilateral and illegal actions continue to infringe upon our sovereignty, our sovereign rights and jurisdictions,' Marcos told the Lowy Institute international policy think tank in the Australian city of Melbourne.