MANILA: Despite China’s latest incursion into Philippine waters and other acts of provocation, Manila is exercising maximum restraint and is sticking to diplomacy in addressing the situation, Malacañang said yesterday.
“Of course, we view it (China’s provocation) with grave concern, which is why we have chosen the path that we did — we are for the diplomatic (solution),” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said over state-run radio dzRB.
A Chinese fishing flotilla — accompanied by armed naval ships — recently swarmed into Ayungin Shoal in the Spratlys. Manila’s diplomatic protests to Beijing over the incident remain unanswered.
“We’ve not changed our stance, if you notice in the maritime disputes that we’ve had in the past years, and it’s deliberate,” Valte said.
“We’ve chosen not to respond to provocative statements and provocative actions that may not be productive for the path that we’ve chosen to take. So our choices are deliberate, that we will go through peaceful means,” she said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has warned that the current maritime tensions could lead to armed hostilities in the disputed areas, particularly with the armed patrols being conducted by China.
The Department of National Defence, for its part, said it is ready to defend the country’s territory up to the last soldier.
Valte said DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario was right in his assessment that the South China Sea was a potential flashpoint and that care should be taken in dealing with the issue. “If you notice, when it comes to maritime disputes, we have only one approach – that we need to resort to the diplomatic solution, we adhere to the rules-based approach, and our policy is to find the best way to have a resolution,” Valte pointed out.
Asked if President Aquino would convene the National Security Council or call for a full Cabinet meeting like he did when Chinese vessels first swamped Panatag Shoal, Valte said Aquino had made clear that “given the capacity, our capabilities at hand and our limitations, we will continue to deal with the problem in the way that we have dealt with the others, meaning through resources that are available to us.”
THE PHILIPPINE STAR
