Philippine officials should not fall into the deceptive rhetorics and actions of China which a local-based research group branded as attempts to hide its real intention of expansionist ambition in the region.
In a statement, Stratbase Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ADRi) president Prof. Dindo Manhit said the expansionist ambition was further recently revealed by China's swarming of the Julian Felipe Reef and the deployment of its military, Coast Guard and militia-manned ships in the South China Sea which includes the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Philippines and other countries.
“The persistent and deliberate swarming maneuverings of their maritime militia vessels in Philippine waters reveals China’s expansionist ambitions and renders false their pronouncements to safeguard peace and stability in the region,” Manhit said.
“They continue to instigate deceptive rhetoric and acts that undermine the precepts of peaceful resolution and stability in the region,” he added.
When he assumed the presidency in 2016, President Duterte became friendly with China to the point of almost burning bridges with the Philippines' long-time ally, the United States, due to some actions that include revocation of the Visiting Forces of Agreement which paves way for the regular conduct of war games between Philippine and American troops.
Duterte would vocally praise China, citing the latter's generosity such as providing multi-billion dollar loans to the Philippines. But almost all of the loans promised of China is yet to be realized after almost five years of his presidency.
Duterte appeared to have also been convinced of China's argument that the territorial dispute issue should be resolved bilaterally, which paved the way for the sidelining of the United Nations Tribunal victory of the Philippines in the case it filed against China.
But with the incident in Julian Felipe Reef, the Philippines is now turning into its long-time ally, the United States, what with the resumption of the war games that started on Monday.
The ADRi also underscored that the Philippines has “every right to exercise its sovereignty over these waters.”
“We have the right to patrol, protect, and harness its resources as established by international law and the 2016 arbitral ruling,” Manhit said.
Meanwhile, the institute also condemned the disrespectful conduct of the Chinese Embassy whose recent pronouncements have offended the country’s officials.
The group has also called on the Duterte administration to focus on the foreign policy stance on the national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interest to serve and protect the people as stated by the 1987 Constitution.
“We support the move to forge stronger ties with regional partners and allies in maintaining regional peace and stability through joint efforts of maritime patrol and military exercises,” Manhit added.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) said on Wednesday, April 14 that the swarming of over 240 Chinese vessels was “prejudicial to the peace and security” in the region.
The task force likewise expressed “serious alarm” at the reported pursuit of a Filipino vessel by Chinese ships during their voyage at Ayungin Shoal. The incident is now under investigation, it said.