The government has assured Filipinos that there is no cause for alarm on the possibility of a Cross-Strait Conflict following a warning issued by the Philippine military chief.
Both Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairperson Cheloy Garafil on Thursday, April 3, allayed fears about a possible Taiwan conflict; and if it really happens, the government is prepared for it, they added.
Bersamin said such a concern "is no longer new," and foreign governments have been for a long time talking about a "great possibility" of mainland China crossing the channel "to recover Taiwan."
"This is just part of the preparedness that we as a country should be put into. Yung context nung kay Gen. [Romeo] Brawner [Jr.] making that statement, there should not be any alarm on the part of the Filipinos to look or see that interview," he said.
During the celebration of the anniversary of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) on Tuesday, April 1, the country's military chief urged his troops to prepare in case of a Taiwan invasion.
"Start planning for actions in case there is an invasion of Taiwan. So ie-extend na natin 'yung (We will extend our) sphere of operations natin because if something happens to Taiwan, inevitably we will be involved," he said.
Brawner said around 250,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the self-governing island will be affected, and "we will have to rescue them."
Bersamin said the Philippine government has been, in fact, preparing for such an eventuality. But he clarified that there is really no invasion that is expected anytime soon.
"Ang importante sa atin, hindi tayo natutulog sa pansitan. Kaya yung context nung pagsasalita ni General Brawner (What's important is we're not sleeping on the job. So the context of Brawner's pronouncement) is just to announce something that we are prepared," he added.
He also believed Brawner did not mean to alarm anyone, and media reports about his pronouncement might just have been twisted.
Meanwhile, Garafil said MECO "truly appreciates" Brawner's directive for Nolcom to provide assistance to Filipinos in Taiwan in case the need arises.
But she added "there is no cause for alarm because everyone here in Taiwan is conducting business as usual. "
"Filipinos here in Taiwan are used to reports of China's presence around the territory," she added.
Garafil said MECO and the Department of Migrant Workers have already had contingency plans that is ready to be activated; and both offices are in close coordination with Taiwanese authorities regarding any security concerns.
And if an invasion really happens, Bersamin said, the Philippine government has "every asset that is needed" even for large evacuations.
"We need the confluence of air and water assets. Yung barko saka yung mga eroplano kung pwede (Ships and planes, if possible)," he said.