Locsin: PH will never give up Julian Felipe Reef
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. yesterday said the Philippines will never give up Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef), which was recently swarmed by hundreds of chinese vessels.
Locsin was reacting to a statement by a spokesperson of the China Mission to the European Union (EU) maintaining Niu’E Jiao Reef (Julian Felipe Reef) belongs to China.
“Well, it doesn’t. It belongs to the Philippines whatever native journalists are paid to say to the contrary. The Philippines will never give it up,” Locsin tweeted.
He suggested the features may be used as military outposts.
“Now that makes sense; we’ll settle this between ourselves but in the meanwhile we’ll use these features as the owners of them we are; e.g. military posts. But the dispute is between China and us until the other side sinks a Philippine vessel. Then it falls under the MDT (Mutual Defense Treaty).”
China urged EU to respect the efforts of countries in the region in properly addressing differences and maintaining stability in the South China Sea, and stop sowing discord in the South China Sea.
The EU on April 24 reiterated its strong opposition to any unilateral actions that could undermine stability in the South China Sea amid the continued presence of Chinese vessels in the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
A statement was issued by EU Lead Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano saying “tensions in the South China Sea, including the recent presence of large Chinese vessels at Whitsun Reef, endanger peace and stability in the region.”
