MANILA – Malacañang expressed “serious concern” over China’s growing presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS, or South China Sea).
“We take note of the reports that appeared, and we express our serious concerns anew on its impact on efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region,” Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Monday.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it was monitoring developments but stopped short of condemning China’s action.
“We are taking the appropriate diplomatic action necessary to protect our claims and will continue to do so in the future,” the agency said in a statement. It did not elaborate.
Roque assured the government is not taking the issue sitting down.
“Hindi naman po natin binabalewala,” he said. “As the Department of Foreign Affairs said hindi naman pupuwede na lahat ng issue on foreign relations ay nag-iingay tayo.”
The Chinese air force landed bombers on islands and reefs in the West Philippine Sea. It said it was part of a training exercise.
The pilot of an H-6K bomber conducted assault training on a designated sea target, and then carried out takeoffs and landings at an airport in the area, describing the exercise as preparation for “the West Pacific and the battle for the South China Sea,” the Chinese air force said.
Roque reiterated that the territorial dispute over the West Philippine Sea will be addressed through diplomatic action.
The presidential spokesman said they will bring up the issue during the government’s next bilateral negotiations with China.
“Now the Philippines reaffirms the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, avoid actions that would escalate tensions and peaceful resolutions of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1082 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and like the other issues that have been reported by a major daily,” he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier said he would not provoke China into a war following reports of the long-range bombers on an airstrip in the disputed body of water.
“What will we arm ourselves with if there’s a war? Will we resort to slapping each other? I couldn’t even buy myself a rifle. It was given to me. So how will we even fight with the Chinese?” he said in a speech in Cebu. (With Bloomberg and Reuters/PN)
