PHL to keep ‘close ties’ with China, avoid tension

THE PHILIPPINES is keen on maintaining close ties with the People’s Republic of China despite its incessant militarization in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said on Monday, Feb. 5.

“[R]ight now the posture of the President is maintain close ties so they wouldn’t have any reason to use those arms in those islands.”

So went the response of Presidential Spokesperson Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr. to Monday’s banner report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Beijing’s almost complete fortification of the Spratlys area being claimed in part by the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

‘INTENDED... AS MILITARY BASES’

Mr. Roque also pointed out: “They were complete, in fact, during the time of the previous administration (of Benigno S.C. Aquino III). And I think whether or not we like it, they intended to use them as military bases.”

He added: “As I said, this militarization, if you can call it militarization, did not happen during the Duterte administration alone. It’s been long militarized and the question is, ‘ What can we do? What did the past administration do and what can we do?’”

“All that we could do is to extract a promise from China not to reclaim any new artificial islands.”

“If the Aquino administration was not able to do anything about these artificial islands, what (do) they want us to do? We cannot declare war — not only is it illegal, but it is also contrary — but it’s also, because it’s impossible for us to declare war at this point.”

Asked to comment on Senior Associate Justice Antonio T. Carpio’s view that China’s reclamation could mean the Philippines is losing 80% of its exclusive economic zone or 40% of the Philippines’ fishing grounds, Mr. Roque said: “That appears to be speculative. I don’t think there’s been an instance when China has curtailed freedom of navigation despite the fact that they have weapons in these reclaimed islands.”

“So to me, I can’t answer on a speculat[ion]. We hope not — because after all, all countries [ have an] obligation to refrain from the use of force. That is illegal under international law,” Mr. Roque also said.

Mr. Roque maintained that the government is always monitoring the area. “Who says we are not monitoring? I get briefings and I can tell you we know what ships are plying where. We know about the work. But the question is, what can you do? You can protest and I think there is a protest already filed even before. What else can be done?”

“Well, we will continue relying not only on the principle of good faith, we also continue to rely on the general prohibition on the use of force which is found under the international law.”

“And we expect that China, being not just a member of the United Nations but also a permanent member of the Security Council, will adhere to the prohibition on the use of force.”

The presidential spokesman also said there are “no new reclamations” in the area.

“No artificial islands, no new artificial islands,” Mr. Roque said.