Don't play with fire

The Philippines and Vietnam are whipping up a new spat over the South China Sea. China should take more measures to safeguard its maritime territory.

On Tuesday, Chinese fishermen at a lagoon in China's Huangyan Island were harassed by a Philippine naval gunboat. The Chinese Embassy to the Philippines lodged a complaint with the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department on Wednesday, urging the Philippines to immediately leave the area.

In another development, Vietnamese and Russian companies have reportedly inked deals on gas exploration in the South China Sea. Hanoi is apparently trying to involve a big power like Russia in its territorial disputes with Beijing.