Lacson: Presence of foreign scientists in WPS can make China rethink incursions

Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson arrives in Puerto Princesa City to make a scheduled visit to Pag-asa Island in Kalayaan. (Photo from Partido Reporma)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said sending foreign scientists to Pag-asa Island and other areas in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) may make China rethink about possible incursions in the area.

He said this a week after a China Coast Guard vessel blocked and water-cannoned two wooden-hulled Philippine ships on their way to deliver supplies to Ayungin Shoal, which is in the jurisdiction of Pag-asa Island.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Lacson said the presence of scientists and researchers from all nations will “help preserve the balance of power in the region and make aggressor countries think twice about moving into and claiming these features in the WPS.”

“Parang subliminally, kapag merong foreign scientists doon, parang naka-enhance na rin ng defense posture because China, knowing there are foreign scientists in the area, they will think ten times before invading the area, which is a possibility by the way,” the Partido Reporma chairman and presidential candidate said.

(Subliminally, the presence of foreign scientists there enhances our defense posture.)

Over the weekend, Lacson — who also chairs the Senate Committee on National Defense — visited Pag-asa Island which is 225 kilometers away from Ayungin Shoal.

He led a flag-raising ceremony, planted three flags on the island, and spoke with residents and Armed Forces of the Philippines staff stationed there about their views on the WPS issue.

As his plane landed on the island, he received a text message which “welcomed him to China.”

President Rodrigo Duterte previously said during an Asean-China special summit that he “abhors” the Ayungin Shoal incident, adding that this did not speak well of the relationship between the two nations.

EDV