Manila, July 3 -- The Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), on Thursday lauded the foreign ministers of the Quad (United States, Japan, India, Australia) for calling out "dangerous and provocative actions" in the South China Sea, including the use of water cannons on vessels.

"By highlighting the continuing dangerous and provocative actions, and the use of force and coercion in the South China Sea, the Quad Foreign Ministers has kept focus on the incidents that the Philippines has regularly contended with in the West Philippine Sea," the DFA said.

The DFA said this reflects the international community's "strong objection" to illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions in the West Philippine Sea ...