Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 18) — Presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday filing diplomatic protests over the continued interference of the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea is not enough to resolve the problem.
Following the Chinese Coast Guard’s firing of water cannon on Tuesday to drive away local ships resupplying the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Lacson said the country must forge alliance with countries with strong military capacities.
“We are not satisfied. Ang aming polisiya dito, makikipag-alliance tayo sa malalakas na bansa, yung militarily strong countries. Meron naman tayong existing bilateral agreements with them. Hindi natin kakayanin ang Tsina considering ang ating military capability ay napakalayo,” Lacson said in a virtual briefing.
[Translation: We are not satisfied. Our policy is we will have alliance with militarily strong countries. We have existing bilateral agreements with them. We cannot take on China considering our military capability is not equal.]
He added he and his running mate, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, are counting on a “balance of power” among countries. He said the Philippines should not be a pushover in its own territories.
Meanwhile, Sotto said the recent incident is an ominous sign.
In this kind of situation, the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States must be invoked, he added
“Itinataboy, may nasaktan o wala, baka panahon na talaga na medyo… Hindi naman parang veiled threat, ano. Pero dapat siguro i-highlight natin muli ‘yung mga provisions ng Mutual Defense Treaty sapagkat yun ang panlaban diyan e,” he said.
[Translation: Being driven away, even if no one gets hurt, maybe it’s time to… Not make a veiled threat. But maybe it’s time to highlight the provisions of the Mutual Defense Treaty because it’s our shield against that]
