China's ''aggressive and coercive actions'' are causing miscalculations at sea, an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman said after the Chinese Embassy claimed that suspension of military-to-military communication with the Philippines ''pushes frontline personnel closer to confrontation.''

In a press briefing on Tuesday, retired Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, AFP spokesperson for West Philippine Sea, said the military "stands solidly behind and firmly support" the decision of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. suspending military-to-military communication channels with the People's Republic of China (PRC) noting that it has been used by "Chinese Communist Party to perpetuate their illegal presence, coercive and aggressive actions and deceptive messaging."

"For communication mechanisms to work they have to be anchored on mutual trust, sincerity and support for international law. bilateral dialogue will be effective if the messages matched the actions on sea, air and ground. Unfortunately this has not been the case," said Trinidad.

"The risk of miscalculations is brought about by coercive and aggressive actions, not messages. The unprofessional and illegal actions being done on the ground caused higher risk of miscalculation," he added.

In a recent statement, the Chinese Embassy in Manila accused Teodoro of cutting military-to-military communication between China and the Philippines for alleged "political self interests."

"Everyone knows that no matter how difficult bilateral relations become, communication channels should remain open to avoid miscalculation and prevent tensions from escalating," it stated.

"His move fuels mistrust, narrows the space for crisis management, and pushes frontline personnel closer to confrontation," it added.

Palace Press Officer and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the Philippine government is not cutting its relations with China, especially in trade and investment.

Trinidad said the escalated tension as well as China's foreign and domestic malign activities are expected to further intensify towards the 2028 election.

He stressed that the recent aggression, intrusion and unlawful actions of China in the West Philippine Sea mark "an escalation by the Chinese Communist Party's agents in the maritime domain".

"We have to expect not only this action on the maritime domain, but even foreign and domestic malign activities on land will escalate until 2028," he said, noting that "these are part of the actions of the Chinese Communist Party to confuse the domestic audience," he said.

"Their objective is not even for us to believe them. The objective is for us not to believe anybody and to cause the populace to lose trust in government and government institutions such that for us to be in chaos," he added. Robina Asido/PHS