Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 13) – After drawing flak for commenting on Julian Felipe Reef, President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesman said his remarks are not inconsistent with those of the Foreign Affairs and Defense departments.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque earlier claimed Julian Felipe Reef is not part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
But government agencies and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea pointed out that the reef is well within the country’s 200-nautical-mile EEZ, since it is 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.
In a briefing on Thursday, Roque sought to clarify his statement.
“So ang aking punto lang po kahapon ‘no ay kabahagi siya sa 200 nautical miles pero malinaw po na mayroong dalawang high-tide elevations doon na magkakaroon po ng territorial sea kung saan kabahagi ang ating Julian Felipe Reef,” he said.
[Translation: So my point yesterday was just that it is within 200 nautical miles but there are two high-tide elevations there that could produce territorial seas which would include our Julian Felipe Reef.]
“Ang tanong, sino ba ang maa-award-an doon sa lugar na iyon? Eh sa ngayon po wala kasi tatlo tayong nagki-claim,” he added, referring to the Philippines, China, and Vietnam.
[Translation: The question is, who would be awarded that area? For now, none yet, because three countries are claiming it.]
Roque also said he has offered to stop answering questions about the issue but the government agencies did not agree.
“Ayaw naman nila because that would mean na parang hindi natin alam ang sagot,” he said.
[Translation: They said no because that would mean it’s as if the Palace doesn’t know the answer.]
But Roque himself also said his job is precisely to speak for Duterte.
“All of the agencies will have to comply with the policy of the President kaya nga po mahirap na supilin ang pananalita ng presidential spokesperson unless talagang magdesisyon si Presidente na mali-mali ang mga pinagsasabi ko, in which case, sisisantehin niya ako. But I’m still talking today hindi ba po ‘no because the President is still the architect of foreign policy.”
[Translation: All of the agencies will have to comply with the policy of the President which is why you can’t suppress the statements of the presidential spokesperson, unless the President decides that I’m saying the wrong things and I should be fired. But I’m still talking today, aren’t I, because the President is still the architect of foreign policy.]
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Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Final Word, Eduardo Araral – professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy – described this kind of mixed messaging as “strategic ambiguity.” He added that it’s normal among Philippine officials, and Chinese diplomats would have to learn how to read these and know what the real message is.
He also said Roque “should learn to keep his mouth shut in this issue” to prevent further confusion.
When asked why the need for “strategic ambiguity” given the arbitral victory of the Philippines in 2016, Araral said the landmark ruling is “not self-enforcing” since Beijing did not participate in the process. “You need to find ways how to enforce it because you cannot rely on the UN or the US to help you enforce the arbitration award,” he noted.
Araral also said the Philippines should not expect help from other ASEAN nations because they prefer not to get involved given their connection to both countries.
“At the end of the day we have to fend for ourselves and the only way to do that is strengthen the economy, to strengthen our defense and not to rely on others,” he said.
