Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his nation won’t deploy Navy warships to the South China Sea in response to recent clashes with Beijing in disputed waters.

Diplomats and representatives from the militaries and coast guards of the United States, Japan and the Philippines had a maritime dialogue against a backdrop of clashes involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

President says such a move in response to clash with Chinese vessels in Scarborough Shoal will be provocative and seen as an escalation.

The Warthog, which was originally designed for close air support of ground forces, also has maritime combat capabilities.