The government is determined to assert the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea but is not keen on taking the “aggressive and provocative” strategy to settle the conflict with China.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella made the statement a few hours before President Duterte was set to meet visiting China Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin in Malacañang.
The meeting between the President and the Chinese diplomat comes on the heels of the government’s concerns over Beijing’s installation of weapons on its manmade islands in the disputed South China Sea.
“We have issued a note verbale to China regarding the buildup of weapon systems in manmade islands in the South China Sea. Aggressive and provocative diplomacy will bring us nowhere so we dealt with the issue formally,” Abella said.
“The Philippines will continue to assert its sovereignty over disputed territory in the South China Sea while remaining consistent with the efforts of President Duterte to revitalize longstanding ties with China,” he said.
Abella said the Philippines will continue to “staunchly support all efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region.”
China has reportedly installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on the artificial lands created in the disputed South China Sea last year. (Genalyn Kabiling)