No need to protest Chinese bombers
MANILA — Echoing China's justification of deploying a bomber aircraft in the South China Sea, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. stressed that Beijing's activities are not directed at Manila.
Esperon said that the Chinese Air Force's deployment of a nuclearcapable bomber aircraft on Woody Island in the Paracels should not be a cause for alarm.
"Are we the target? Should we be alarmed? I do not think so because we are not at war with China and we are not at war with ASEAN," Esperon said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
"Should we launch a protest against that? I don't think so," he added.
The national security adviser added that the Paracel Islands are not part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
The bombers have a range of 1,900 kilometers and China could launch missiles from Hong Kong and reach Manila as it is only about 1,200 kilometers away, according to Esperon.
"Not to defend that landing there, it is an incident that is part of the drill for landing but the purpose of that must be looked into — training," Esperon said.
Incidentally, Esperon's remarks are similar to China's statement over the recent deployment on Woody Island.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the deployment of a bomber aircraft on its largest base in the Paracel Islands were "normal training" of the Chinese military.