Malacañang emphasized that it will assert the country’s national interest and a peaceful resolution in the West Philippine Sea dispute amid the recent remarks of US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien and the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.
“The President has said that there will be increased tensions among superpowers in the region. We do not want to take part in that drive for hegemony,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque stated on Tuesday.
Security analyst Prof. Rommel Banlaoi explained that in order to achieve a de-escalation between the two superpowers, they both have to sit down and discuss their political differences.
In the case of the Philippines and China, the expert said the bilateral consultative mechanism and the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea must continue to achieve a peaceful resolution on the issue.
O’Brien said in his visit to the Philippines for the ceremonial turnover of the $18 million worth of precision guided munition that they “stand with the Philippines in protecting sovereign rights, offshore resources and all of those rights consistent with international law.”
O’Brien reminded in his speech that attacks against any Philippine vessel will trigger its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines.
The Chinese Embassy responded that O’Brien “has made some unreasonable remarks on the South China Sea (SCS), Hong Kong and Taiwan issues during his visit to the Philippines.”
“He blatantly accused China on no ground, grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs, deliberately exaggerated regional tensions and attempted to sow discord between China and the Philippines,” it stated.
“We firmly oppose these remarks which are full of Cold War mentality and wantonly incite confrontation. It shows that his visit to this region is not to promote regional peace and stability, but to create chaos in the region in order to seek selfish interests of the US,” it added. – Report from Naomi Tiburcio
