China responsive to diplomatic protests, says DFA chief

MANILA, Philippines – China sometimes disagrees with the diplomatic protests filed by the Philippine government, Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. disclosed on Wednesday.

Earlier, the foreign affairs chief said the government has filed “more or less 60” diplomatic protests against China since the beginning of the Duterte administration in 2016.

READ: Locsin: PH filed ‘more or less 60’ diplomatic protests vs China since 2016 

Asked if China has responded to the protests filed by the Philippines, Locsin said: “Yes they do.”

“Sometimes they disagree with it. But the point is okay I accept, I learn naman that if you file a diplomatic protest then you’re keeping your claim alive,” Locsin said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

“Although I asked this naman, in favor of direct verbal confrontation, I said, if we don’t (file diplomatic protests) do we lose it (claims)? No. Rights are eternal. There’s all there is to it,” he pointed out.

The latest protest filed by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was over the reported unannounced transit of five Chinese warships in the Sibutu Strait since July.

READ: DFA chief: File diplomatic protest over Chinese warships’ intrusion 

“@DFAPHL fire diplomatic protest over Chinese warship; drop the diplomatic crap; say it is ours period; they’re trespassing,” Locsin said over Twitter last August 19.  /gsg