SEN. Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that any pronouncement by the country related to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) issue should be coursed through the Department of Foreign Affairs and not through the military.
“The mere fact na unipormadong [Armed Forces] chief of staff ang nagsasalita at tumatalakay ng isyu, pinapakita at pinapalabas na ano, military issue ba ito?” Escudero said.
“I think it remains a diplomatic issue, I think it remains a foreign relations issue, I think it remains to be a foreign affairs issue,” he added. “At dapat manatili iyon doon dahil ang desisyon at track ng Pilipinas ay diplomasya ang gamitin, legal challenge ang gamitin, at community of nations.”
Escudero was referring to a news conference conducted by the Armed Forces chief of staff, Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang, on Monday, where he showed photographs of China’s ongoing land reclamations on the West Philippine Sea.
“We have compelling reasons to raise our voice to tell the whole world the adverse effects of China’s aggressiveness that has created tensions not only among the countries who have overlapping claims in the area, but also among the countries around the world who are using the international sea lanes in the WPS for trade and commerce,” he said.
He said the military believes that China’s massive reclamation activities will cause tension among claimant countries not only because it could deter freedom of navigation but also due to its possible military purposes. Catapang said the construction works at the WPS “clearly violated the Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations]-China Declaration of Conduct (DOC).
Under the DOC that was crafted in 2002 the signatories agreed to resolve the territorial dispute peacefully and exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes.
Meanwhile, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte renewed his call for the involvement of world powers, especially the US, in resolving the Philippines dispute with China in the WPS.
“China should not be allowed to use its military and economic might to bully smaller countries like the Philippines,” Duterte declared in previous statements on the issue.
Duterte said now is the right time for the US to show to its partners in Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines with which it has a Mutual Defense Treaty, that it could provide them protection against a military giant like China.
1 comment
We commend and strongly support General Catapang for having the courage to declare our stand on this case. General, Sir, carry on. We are proud of you, President Noy Aquino and other Filipino officials for having the courage to declare our position against the illegal, reckless and irresponsible acts of China. This is the trait of real leaders that we need. To Keso Escudero, you should stand down. We do not have even the courage to call you senator.
We shall not weaken an institution, the military, that God forbid, will one day fight for and with us for our children, our family and our country.
It is odd and a national shame that while US senators have condemned China’s act, not even one of our senators have done the same. This is one reason China does not respect and has trampled on us. The article entitled “Ïnutile Grouping” by Ana Marie Pamintuan at the Philippine Star dated 22 April 2015 (https://www.philstar.com/opinio… is a very good read.
We strongly condemn the illegal reclamation activities and do not recognize the excessive 9-dash claim. China has to stop this reckless, irresponsible and illegal act that is raising tensions that could create scenarios that could lead to conflict or war. Right, we have to resolve this issue peacefully and diplomatically, adhering to the rule of law and refrain from conflict, but when all else fails, we should never shirk from it—and we shall be prepared. The Balikatan 2015 exercise with the US is highly welcome. We have the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the US that obligates us to defend ourselves and our ally the US in any form of conflict, and we will continue to do just that. This is a highly complex, unpredictable and in some instance ruthless global environment, as we have just experienced and will probably continue to experience going forward—and working with our allies is one of the most effective way of navigating and surviving in this increasingly chaotic world.
We have to remind China that just because it is, a) the largest US outsourced manufacturing and assembly facility in the world, b) the recipient of the largest US Financial Feeding Program for the past 30 years (through the massive China trade surplus with the US which amounted to $342 billion in 2014 alone and has reached $3.65 trillion nominal in 2014 or approximately $10.95 trillion in current value) and c) with the introduction of the China led Asia Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB), the US’s/US dollar proxy or front (some say as the US dollar broker and distributor, Note: the reported $50 billion China contribution at the AIIB largely comes from the trade surplus/foreign reserves) does not mean that it can recklessly and irresponsibly violate the rule of law and trample on the little and the weak such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and others. Apparently, China, the virtual US light industrial
base or US annex has gone rogue.