By Vanne Elaine Terrazola Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III believes that the government should formalize the Philippines' military relations with China especially that the leaders of the two country are being vocal about their growing friendship. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (Senate of the Philippines / Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN) Pimentel made the statement after President Duterte repeated the assurance of China Prime Minister Xi Jin Ping that he would protect the Philippines from external threats. He agreed with Duterte in saying that China would be able to fulfill its promise since it has military capacities. "If China gives its commitment then China can protect us. Because China is a strong military power than the Philippines," he told reporters in an interview after the Senate's necrological service for deceased Senator Edgardo Angara on Wednesday. The Senate Chief said he does not see a problem with the country's warming up with China even as the country has existing agreements with the United States, which Duterte had repeatedly slammed. "Ang ating relationship with the United States is formalized in a series of treaties. Hindi naman bawal na magka-treaty din tayo sa China (Our relationship with the United States is formalized in a series of treaties. But we are not prohibited to forge a treaty with China)," he said. "If our leaders, the two leaders, have expressed sentiments in that tenor, maybe our foreign affairs department, respective departments should pursue formalizing such an agreement," he added. But Pimentel clarified that the Philippine government should continue to fight for its territory in the contested areas of South China Sea, using as safeguard the ruling of United Nations' arbitral tribunal nullifying China's nine-dash line claim. "We should be thankful that this arbitral ruling is in our favor and put importance in the said ruling. So ang sabi ng ruling (the ruling said that) the nine-dash line has no legal basis under international law. And therefore...we should pursue our claims on the maritime features," he said. China has reportedly completed constructing artificial islands over the reefs that were ruled be part of the Philippine's exclusive economic zone. Recently, it was reported that they have deployed missile systems in these installations. An ally to the administration, Pimentel, however, maintained that Duterte "is not giving up" on the country's territory. "Hindi ko naman nakikita na (I don't see that) the President is giving up on our claims. Ang batikos sa kanya bakit hindi daw umaangal (The ciriticism is that why is he not protesting) that China is building. Eh umaangal naman tayo (But we are protesting), but the question is what can we really do about it?" he said. Other senators, meanwhile, weighed in on Duterte's statement that China has also assured to protect him from any ouster moves. For Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III, Xi's assurance proves his close ties to Duterte. "It only proves na magkaibigan sila (that they are friends)," he said. Sotto added he also does not see China's supposed commitment to Duterte as interference to the country's internal affairs. "Hindi naman, okay lang 'yon (Not really, it is okay). I would be happy if all other presidents in different countries will be supportive of our President. Mabuti 'yon (That would be good). Wala akong nakikitang masama doon (I don't see any problem with that)," he said. But opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV doubted China's reported assurance. "First of all, I don't believe China would even say that because they know that they don't have the power to stop any leadership change from happening," Trillanes said in a statement. "But, more importantly, Duterte's statement betrays his paranoia about the state of affairs in his own country. No one is trying to kick him out; he is doing the destabilizing all by himself," he added. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, for his part, maintained that foreigners should keep their hands off the country's affairs particularly in choosing its leader. "God help the Philippines, because we are a sovereign country and only the Filipinos can determine or decide of what we should do, not any foreigner or foreign country. That should be left to us because we are a sovereign country and it's us who should decide what will we do with our leaders. Of course not in an undemocratic way," Lacson said. He, on the other hand, welcomed China's commitment to protect the Philippines.