Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 14) — Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said Manila does not want to be involved in a conflict with China despite an ongoing territorial dispute between the two nations.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source on Friday, Romualdez said even President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said he does not want to clash with the East Asian superpower.
“We are merely doing what we feel is our right to defend ourselves and defend our sovereignty and our territorial waters,” Romualdez explained.
China on Thursday expressed serious concern and strong disapproval of the joint statement issued by the United States and the Philippines on the South China Sea.
While the two long-time allies urged Beijing to comply with the 2016 arbitral ruling which upholds the Philippines’ rights over the West Philippine Sea, China maintained it “has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters.”
“The joint statement of the US and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China. We strongly oppose this,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.
China has also warned against the establishment of additional sites for Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), saying this could backfire on the Philippines.
Romualdez said the new EDCA locations were already being considered for a long time.
He said these are also part of the Philippines’ defense strategy to prepare its troops in case there will be tensions in the region of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations which will most likely affect Manila.
“There is nothing really there that shows that we are out there to be part, we’re trying to be part of a game or a war,\” Romualdez pointed out.
