Palace unfazed by China's warnings to Filipino govt forces in WPS
By AJ Siytangco
Published Aug 13, 2018 03:16 pm
By Argyll Cyrus GeducosÂ
Malacañang said that Filipino government forces will not stop entering or going through the disputed West Philippine Sea despite warnings from Chinese military.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the statement following reports that Chinese military warned the Philippine military aircraft to get out of the disputed waters or face consequences.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque
(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) "Philippine Military aircraft, I'm warning you again: Leave immediately or you will bear responsibility for all the consequences," the Chinese military reportedly told the Philippine Military. In another instance, the Chinese Military also reportedly told the United States military aircraft to get out of the West Philippine Sea as it asserted that it has sovereignty over the area, including the Nansha Islands or the Spratly Islands. "US Military aircraft Papa-8-Alpha, this is Chinese military. China has sovereignty of the Nansha Islands, including, inaudible, reef and its adjacent waters." the Chinese military reportedly said. In his Monday press briefing, Roque said that he would confirm first reports, and if they are true, he would ask the pilot if he cussed at the Chinese military. "Tatanong ko lang kung minura niya. Eh kasi tinakot siya eh. Eh alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino, hindi tayo madaling matakot dahil matagal na tayong takot (I will just ask him if he cussed them out because they tried to scare him. You know Filipinos, we don't scare easily because we have long been afraid)," he said. Roque said that such warnings will never drive Philippine forces out of the West Philippine Sea which the country also claims to be part of its territory. "They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. And if need be, Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty," he said. Roque said that there will be an investigation on the incident. "If the information is true, the good news is, hindi naman nagpatakot 'yung ating mga piloto. Tinakot sila, hindi sila nagpatakot, tinuloy pa rin nila 'yung lipad nila, dahil meron naman talaga tayong teritoryo doon (our pilot didn't let the warning affect them. They tried to scare them away but they still flew by because we have a territory there)," he said. "That means we are upholding our title. That we are asserting our sovereignty because we conducted the overflight over our islands," he added. President Duterte has been repeatedly reassuring the public that he will not give up the country's rights on the disputed West Philippine Sea despite the country's renewed and improved friendship with China. "Our improved relationship with China, however, does not mean that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the West Philippine Sea," Duterte said last month. Since winning the presidency, Duterte has set aside the Philippines' victory in The Hague, granting the Philippines rights over the disputed water, and opted to build stronger ties with China. Duterte, however, vowed to talk to China about the arbitral ruling within his term.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque(CAMILLE ANTE / MANILA BULLETIN) "Philippine Military aircraft, I'm warning you again: Leave immediately or you will bear responsibility for all the consequences," the Chinese military reportedly told the Philippine Military. In another instance, the Chinese Military also reportedly told the United States military aircraft to get out of the West Philippine Sea as it asserted that it has sovereignty over the area, including the Nansha Islands or the Spratly Islands. "US Military aircraft Papa-8-Alpha, this is Chinese military. China has sovereignty of the Nansha Islands, including, inaudible, reef and its adjacent waters." the Chinese military reportedly said. In his Monday press briefing, Roque said that he would confirm first reports, and if they are true, he would ask the pilot if he cussed at the Chinese military. "Tatanong ko lang kung minura niya. Eh kasi tinakot siya eh. Eh alam mo naman ang mga Pilipino, hindi tayo madaling matakot dahil matagal na tayong takot (I will just ask him if he cussed them out because they tried to scare him. You know Filipinos, we don't scare easily because we have long been afraid)," he said. Roque said that such warnings will never drive Philippine forces out of the West Philippine Sea which the country also claims to be part of its territory. "They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. And if need be, Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty," he said. Roque said that there will be an investigation on the incident. "If the information is true, the good news is, hindi naman nagpatakot 'yung ating mga piloto. Tinakot sila, hindi sila nagpatakot, tinuloy pa rin nila 'yung lipad nila, dahil meron naman talaga tayong teritoryo doon (our pilot didn't let the warning affect them. They tried to scare them away but they still flew by because we have a territory there)," he said. "That means we are upholding our title. That we are asserting our sovereignty because we conducted the overflight over our islands," he added. President Duterte has been repeatedly reassuring the public that he will not give up the country's rights on the disputed West Philippine Sea despite the country's renewed and improved friendship with China. "Our improved relationship with China, however, does not mean that we will waver in our commitment to defend our interests in the West Philippine Sea," Duterte said last month. Since winning the presidency, Duterte has set aside the Philippines' victory in The Hague, granting the Philippines rights over the disputed water, and opted to build stronger ties with China. Duterte, however, vowed to talk to China about the arbitral ruling within his term.