CITING closer ties with China, President Rodrigo Duterte hinted at resolving the issue of Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef through peaceful means.
In a press briefing, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President remains firm on his position asserting the Philippines’ rights over the maritime territory remains. However, the incident at Julian Felipe Reef is not enough reason to go beyond the peaceful means.
“Ang position po ng Presidente, paninindigan natin ang karapatan pero hindi po ito isang bagay para tayo po ay gumamit ng dahas. Kampante po ang ating Presidente na dahil nga po mayroon tayong malapit na pagkakaibigan, mariresolba itong hidwaan na ito,” Roque said.
The Palace spokesperson further averred that the President is not bent on surrendering any part of the disputed maritime region.
“We will not give up even a single inch of our national territory or our exclusive economic zone. And we hope that the friendly relations will result in [a] peaceful resolution of this latest impasse.”
“Malinaw po ang sinasabi ng Presidente, meron po tayong malapit na pagkakaibigan, hindi po dahilan itong mga fishing vessels para tayo po ay magka-giyera. We will resolve this peacefully,” added Roque.
However, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that he has every reason to shoo away the Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef, adding that those ships are manned by Chinese militias.
Responding to Lorenzana, China insisted that the reef was part of its Nansha Islands which, it claimed, has been a “traditional fishing ground” for many years.
Prior to Lorenzana’s word war engagement with Chinese Embassy officials in Manila, the Department of Foreign Affairs warned China that it risks facing a slew of diplomatic protests for every single day it fails to withdraw its vessels in the West Philippine Sea.