PRESIDENT Duterte finally broke his silence on the presence of Chinese militia vessels inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, saying he would send Navy ships to the West Philippine Sea if China starts to drill oil in the area.
But he also reiterated the Philippines cannot win against China if war erupts.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea earlier this month reported the presence of at least 240 Chinese militia vessels in Philippine waters. Last month, the Coast Guard said at least 200 Chinese militia vessels were seen massing at the Julian Felipe Reef near Palawan. China has said those were fishing vessels that sought refuge in the area during bad weather.
The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China’s actions in the South China Sea, with the latest accusing its giant neighbor of undertaking illegal fishing and massing more than 240 boats within its territorial waters.
Duterte, in his regular public address, on Monday night again said the Philippines is willing to share with China fish caught in the area.
“I’m not so much interested now in fishing. I don’t think there’s enough fish to quarrel about. But when we start to mine, when we start to get whatever it is in the bowels of the China Sea, our oil, by that time I will send my gray ships there to stake a claim,” Duterte said.
“Pag mag-umpisa na sila mag drill ng oil diyan, sabihin ko talaga sa China (If they start drilling for oil there, I will really tell China), ‘Is that part of our agreement? Because if it is not part of our agreement, I’m going to also drill my oil there. If you own it, I own it,” he said.
He recalled that during his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2017, he said that if China would start digging for oil, the Philippines would do the same because if China claims the area to be theirs, the Philippines is also asserting its claim.
The Philippines, in 2016, won an arbitration case against China after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated Beijing’s nine-dash line claim over almost the entire South China Sea. China has refused to recognize the ruling.
The West Philippine Sea is the Philippine-claimed portion of the South China Sea which is also being claimed in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Duterte said the Philippines can assert its claim by using “force” which he said would end in bloodshed or war.
“The issue of the West Philippine Sea remains to be a question forever until such time that you know, we can take it back. Ang akin iyan is, walang iba, giyera lang (The issue of the West Philippine Sea remains to be a question forever until such time that you know, we can take it back. My point is, the only way is by war),” he said.
He reiterated that engaging in war has serious consequences.
Critics complained Duterte had gone soft by refusing to push Beijing to comply with the arbitration ruling.
Duterte has sought to build an alliance with China and has been reluctant to confront its leadership, having been promised billions of dollars of loans and investments, much of which have yet to materialize.
He has repeatedly said the Philippines was powerless to stop China, and that challenging its activities could risk a war his country would lose.
Duterte said that even if the Philippines has the United States as its ally, and despite having military agreements such as the Mutual Defense Treaty, the US is not likely to help if the Philippines starts a war.
He said under the MDT, the US will come to the Philippines’ defense only is the latter is attacked.
“Alam mo, doon (You know, in the) sa Mutual Defense Treaty — I don’t know if I’m right — only if we are being attacked and assaulted. It does not include a war that is initiated by us,” he said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, during the meeting Monday night, said: “Iyan talaga ang problema. But we can retake it only by force. There is no way that we can get back the Philippine Sea without any bloodshed (That is the problem. But we can retake it only by force. There is no way that we can get back the Philippine Sea without any bloodshed),” the President said.
Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez yesterday said the US is willing to assist the Philippines in driving away the Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea if the country will ask for help.
Lorenzana said Filipinos can still fish in the area, despite reports in the past weeks that some fishermen were being blocked by Chinese vessels and a Philippine news crew was chased away by the Chinese.
He said the Philippine Coast Guard also regularly patrols the area while Navy ships are deployed at and are patrolling Pag-asa Island.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said President Duterte should not have sent a wrong message which apparently implies the Philippines is surrendering its right over areas in the West Philippine Sea.
He was referring to Duterte’s statement about risking bloodshed if it asserts its claim over the disputed waters.
“He’s the leader of our country and he’s the commander-in-chief of our Armed Forces. He can think of anything and speak about anything except surrender. Remember, we have an arbitral ruling in our favor and it’s permanent although it’s unenforceable. There are so many things to think about except surrender. We cannot wave the white flag, so to speak,” Lacson said in an interview on CNN Philippines.
“I am not saying the President is actually raising the white flag but that’s the implication. If the officers and men of the AFP would take it that way, it could be disastrous to Philippine sovereignty,” added Lacson, Senate committee on national defense and security chair.
He said Duterte should have banked on the words of Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. that the Philippines can build strong alliances with other countries which are willing to help.
Also, Lacson said, the US and Japan have expressed their willingness to build much stronger alliances with the Philippines. He added the Philippines can conduct joint military exercises with other countries like the US and even Australia. — With Raymond Africa
