Presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said he does not consider China as an enemy amid the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.
Domagoso, during TV host Korina Sanchez’s Upuan ng Katotohanan -The Presidentiables segment on Feb 4, was asked if he "is mad at China for claiming the West Philippine Sea."
"Wala. Hindi ko naman sila kaaway. (China is not my enemy). I cannot blame (Chinese President) Xi Jinping in thinking that the West Philippine Sea is theirs. But in the same manner, that kind of thinking, that kind of respect must be given to us. It is also ours," Domagoso said.
"In the meantime, we won in The Hague ruling and rules must be observed. Contracts and agreements must be recognized,” he added.
Domagoso had previously vowed that he would pursue The Hague ruling and international policy in the country’s dispute with China on the West Philippine Sea if he is elected as the country’s next president.
He also promised to protect the rights of Filipino fisherfolks to fish in the West Philippine Sea, adding it is "non-negotiable."
Among his plans should negotiations take place on the extraction of oil in the area are to use the extracted fuel resources to build up the country’s naval and coastal defenses, lower domestic electricity costs, and boost industrialization.
Domagoso said he will also prioritize investing on and upgrading the country’s defense capabilities.
He noted that modernizing the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard will greatly improve the country’s lines of defense on its western seaboard.
By doing this, Filipino fishermen will be able to fish freely and unhampered, Domagoso added.
If elected, he said the government will also continue to convince other countries to help the Philippines in order to make The Hague ruling observed and implemented properly.
“Technically, nanalo tayo sa Hague. Igigiit natin ‘yung ating panalo dun sa mga institusyong ating kinabibilangan din bilang miyembro ng Tsina. Meron naman tayo nung United Nation. We will continue to convince others, multilaterally na ‘yung ibang mga kasama natin na tulungan tayong mapatupad nang tama in favor of the Philippines ‘yung desisyon sa Hague (Technically we won in The Hague. We will assert our victory to the institutions to which we also belong like China. We have the United Nation. We will continue to convince others, multilaterally, to help us implement the ruling which was in favor of the Philippines),” he said.