‘WE ARE NOT AT WAR’
THE Philippines will not be deploying Navy warships in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) despite the recent harassment by China, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. stressed on Tuesday.
“We are not at war. We don’t need Navy warships,” President Marcos told reporters when asked if the Philippines will deploy Navy warships in the WPS.
Despite China’s harassment, President Marcos underscored the Philippines will continue its resupply mission and protect its territorial rights. He assured the country would continue advocating for peaceful resolutions.
“Again, it (sending of warships) will be provocative and will be seen as an escalation. We don’t do that. The Philippines does not escalate tensions. Quite the opposite, the Philippines always tries to bring down the level of tension,” President Marcos said.
He said the government will continue to perform its mission and will never be part of an escalation of the situation in WPS. He said the Philippines has never played an active role in the increasing tensions.
On Nov. 30, a number of Chinese Navy helicopters hovered over Filipino fishermen in WPS, prompting the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Cape Engaño.
Then on Dec. 4, the China Coast Guard (CCG) water cannoned a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel trying to help out Filipino fishermen in WPS.
The Philippines filed another diplomatic protest stemming from the latest incident. PCO
