Pursuing diplomatic negotiations with China remains President Duterte’s “best” option to peacefully resolve the lingering territorial dispute, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President, as chief architect of foreign policy, has decided to talk with China than resort to use of force to settle the conflict, adding his critics could run for president if they want to enforce their own proposals.
Panelo made the remarks after Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio suggested several non-war measures to assert the country’s rights over West Philippine Sea.
“Basta sa ngayon ang Presidente, ang option niya ay ‘yung pinaka-mahusay and that is negotiation, diplomatic negotiations. Wala nang ibang gaganda dun kasi ang kausap mo dun mismo yung supposed to be kaaway mo,” he said.
“Ayaw mo ngang awayin dahil baka magkaroon ng sigalot na makakadala ng panganib sa ating seguridad at sa buhay ng ating mga kababayan. ‘Yun ang pinaka the best,” he added.
Carpio had earlier listed several options to enforce the country’s arbitral win against China’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea without waging war with the Asian neighbor.
Among the proposals are forging a convention with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei on exclusive economic zones, filing an extended continental shelf claim in the West Philippines, patrolling the seas with Japan-donated vessels, and promoting freedom of navigation and oversight of the United States and other naval powers. The supposed non-war options were laid down amid criticisms on the President’s alleged soft stance in asserting the country’s’ rights over the West Philippine Sea. (Genalyn Kabiling)
