PH unfazed by China’s warnings: ‘Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty’

The Chinese Navy’s recent radio warnings against Filipino military aircraft won’t stop the Philippines from conducting aerial patrols over the South China Sea, Malacañang said on Monday.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed that Filipino pilots are willing to die to assert the country’s sovereignty over the Spratly Islands, or the Nansha Islands as China calls it, in the disputed waters.

“They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. If need be, Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty,” Roque told reporters.

A radio warning was reportedly issued by the Chinese Navy as a United States Navy plane was conducting a surveillance flight over the Spratly Islands on Friday.

“Philippine military aircraft! I’m warning you again. Leave immediately or you will bear responsibility for all the consequences!” the Chinese Navy’s radio message was heard as saying.

China’s warning on Filipino military aircraft appeared to be harsher compared to the ones issued to American aircraft: “Leave immediately and keep out to avoid any misunderstanding.”

In reply, the US said: “This is United States naval aircraft conducting lawful military activities beyond the national airspace of any coastal state and exercising these rights is guaranteed by international law. I am operating with due regard for the rights and duties of all states.”

READ: China threatens PH military aircraft in latest flight over South China Sea

Roque said they do not have any information yet on the matter and an investigation would be conducted.

If the information was true, Roque said: “The good news is ‘di naman nagpatakot ang ating mga piloto. Tinakot sila, hindi sila nagpatakot. Tinuloy pa rin nila ang lipad nila dahil meron tayong teritoryo doon.”

“The Philippine pilots continued their flights. They disregarded that. That means that we are upholding our title. That we are asserting our sovereignty because we conducted the overflight over our islands,” Roque said.

He added that he would even ask the Filipino pilots if he cursed at the radio warning. “Tatanungin ko po kung totoo yan, at kung totoo yan, tatanungin ko yung piloto kung minura niya,” the Presidential Spokesperson said.

“Kasi tinakot siya eh, eh alam mo naman mga Pilipino, di naman tayo madali matakot dahil matagal na tayong takot,” he also said.    /vvp