Lorenzana, DFA statements on West Philippine Sea a ‘source of comfort’ – Robredo

MANILA, Philippines — The recent statements of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and the Department of Foreign Affairs on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) dispute with China is a “source of comfort,” Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday during her weekly radio program, “BISErbisyong LENI,” over AM radio station DZXL.

But Robredo said she was bothered by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s downplaying of the issue.

In a press briefing on March 25, Roque said there was really no controversy with 220 of China’s alleged maritime militia — fishing boats, according to the Chinese envoy to the Philippines — staying near the Juan Felipe Reef.

“It’s like a source of comfort for me that Secretary Lorenzana issued a strong statement because for me that’s showing that we are not giving up on our sovereignty. Actually, even the DFA already issued a diplomatic protest last week,” she said in Filipino.

“On my part, what bothers me is the statement of Secretary Roque, as if he’s saying that it’s a non-issue. It’s like he said it’s a non-issue…. because he said the president assured that those were Chinese fishing vessels that sought cover because of bad weather and that once the weather improves they will leave — so a non-issue.,” Robredo went on.

The issue started last March 21 when the Philippine Coast Guard made a report about 220 Chinese ships spotted in line formation near Julian Felipe Reef, which is part of the Philippine continental shelf.

The DFA filed a diplomatic protest and Lorenzana issued strongly-worded statements as the Chinese ships remained in the area despite repeated demands of the Philippine government that they leave.

On Saturday, Lorenzana said that Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian would have “a lot of explaining to do” regarding the ships that remained at the reef.

He stressed that the Chinese ships would have to go because the weather had improved.

Then on Sunday, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin revealed that he was considering filing a demarche, or a protest through diplomatic channels, as China was claiming the reef as part of its territory.

“Our sovereignty is so important. It should not be exchanged for any consideration because it’d not only for us who are here now but for the next generations after us. So it’s important how the leadership would act. It’s important how it would show us that it would fight for us,” Robredo said.

“That’s why, as I said, the statement of Secretary Lorenzana is a source of comfort, along with the diplomatic protest — because that shows us that there was no neglect. For my part, we will see how this will progress. We will see how we will act while this is in progress,” she added.

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