Lacierda: PH to continue pursuing diplomatic track in row with China
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will continue to resort to diplomatic approach amid the aggressive behavior of China in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
“We will continue to resort to the diplomatic track that we have resorted to and that particular track has been gaining approval from the international community. Certainly, we do not want to escalate any tensions in the South China Sea. That is not what we are there for and, therefore, the best thing that we can do is to resort to the diplomatic mechanism,” Secretary Edwin Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang on Monday.
Lacierda issued the statement after China was reported to be planning to build an artificial island in the Fiery Cross Reef, known to the Philippines as Kagitingan Reef. The news report first came out from the South China Morning Post.
“People seem to underestimate the fact or the power of the diplomatic track but there has been a growing approval from the international community. We believe that with the international community support, we can persuade China to act as a responsible member of the international community. And I think it also behooves China to… And also China realizes the importance of being a member of the international community in good standing,” he said.
The news report that came out last week said that the planned artificial island would be at least double the size of a US military base in the Indian Ocean with a size of 44 square kilometers. This is also seen as a move to the declaration of an air defense identification zone.
“Number one, the report that China is building up on the Fiery Cross Reef was reported over the weekend in a Chinese—in a newspaper, so that still needs verification, so we won’t comment on that. On the ADIZ over South China Sea, that is purely speculative at this point, so—hypothetical at this point, so we don’t want to speculate,” Lacierda said.
Only last month, the Philippines protested against China’s reclamation activities at Johnson South Reef (Mabini Reef).
The Philippines filed last March a memorandum in the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea to protest China’s claims to most of the West Philippine Sea.
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