MANILA – While he maintained that he will not wage war on China, President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not allow the Chinese government to seize the Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.
Duterte said this during his speech in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last week.
“The Pag-asa Island belongs to us. Is that ‘yung base natin? China would never do that, I assure you unless China wants a war with us. Eh ‘di ako papayag kung pati ‘yung Pag-asa i-occupy nila,” the President said.
He added: “Let us be friends but do not touch Pag-asa Island, otherwise things would be different. I will not plead or beg I am just telling you that lay off from Pag-asa because may mga sundalo ako dyan at pag ‘yan ang ginalaw ninyo ibang istorya na ‘yan.”
Duterte however clarified that his statement was “not a warning” but “just a word of advice.”
The President’s statement came hours after the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) slammed the presence of Chinese vessels in the waters of Pag-asa.
According to the DFA, the presence of Chinese vessels near the island is illegal.
The intent raises concern of a more coercive objective, the DFA added.
Pag-asa – a 37-hectare island with an airstrip, commercial communications tower, and power generators – is the largest of the Kalayaan Island Group territories claimed by the Philippines and is part of the municipality of Palawan./PN
