By Argyll Cyrus Geducos Malacañang assured the public that the government will continue to protect and uphold the country's national territory and sovereign rights despite its focus on addressing the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country. Harry Roque (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) Presidential spokesman Harry Roque gave the assurance after the Philippines protested China's creation of new districts in what it claims as its territory in the South China Sea. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines also filed two diplomatic protests against China for pointing a radar gun at a Philippine Navy vessel in Philippine waters in February and for declaring parts of the Philippine territory as part of Hainan province. In his Thursday press briefing, Roque said there is no wrong timing when it comes to protecting the country's rights. "Yung filing ng diplomatic protest, ginagawa po 'yan basta kinakailangang gawin (The filing of a diplomatic protest will be done whenever it is needed)," he said. "Que may COVID, que wala, tayo po ay mananatili na poprotektahan at itataguyod ang ating (With or without COVID-19, we will continue to protect and uphold our) national territory at ang ating (and our) sovereign rights," he added. It was reported that China created two new districts of Sansha City, the southernmost city of Hainan province, which cover areas in the South China Sea being claimed by the Philippines, China, and other Asian countries. The Philippines, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan have overlapping claims over the Spratly Islands. Fiery Cross Reef, on the other hand, is claimed by the said countries aside from Malaysia. The Philippines, China, and Taiwan, meanwhile, all claim the Scarborough Shoal. Despite this, Roque said the Palace expects China to stay true to its promise about no new reclamation activities in the disputed waters. "Hindi po dapat mapalala pa yung problema pagdating ng reclamation (The problem should not be worsened by reclamation)," he said. The Palace official, however, assured the public that the government will do what is right in the diplomatic front even if the move will be unpopular. "We need to do the correct thing even if it is unpopular. Hindi po popularity contest kung ano'ng dapat gawin ng DFA pagdating po sa usaping national territory (The decision of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) should not be based on popularity especially if it comes to the national territory)," Roque said. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration voided China’s claims over the South China Sea based on the so-called nine-dash line. Beijing, however, continues to reject this decision. Roque, meanwhile, doubted that China will agree to any form of arbitration as the world seeks accountability for the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this is only possible if China violated a treaty-based or customary-based obligation under international law, or if the disease can be attributed to China. "Depende kung napatunayang may paglabag sa obligasyon ang China. Sa ngayon wala pa akong nalalaman na paglabag ng obligasyon ang China (It depends if it can be proven that China violated its obligation. For now, I haven't heard of such a thing)," he answered when asked if the Philippines will be exerting effort to hold China accountable. The Palace official also wondered if there was a body that can make a decision on China's responsibility. "Ang International Court of Justice (ICJ), may hurisdiksyon lang 'yan sa mga bansa na tumanggap sa hurisdiksyon ng korteng ito at hindi po tinatanggap ng China ang hurisdiksyon ng ICJ (The ICJ only has jurisdiction over countries that accept it and China does not recognize the ICJ)," Roque said. "At tingin ko hindi rin papayag ang China sa kahit anong (And I think China will not agree to any kind of) arbitration," he added.