AFP on Sara Duterte's call: PH government not picking fights with China

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday said the Philippine government is not picking fights with China amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This is in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s call on the government to avoid provoking China.

“Yes, I support that statement na hindi tayo dapat nakikipag-away. Yun naman ang ginagawa ng ating gobyerno at ng bawat ahensya ng ating gobyerno,” AFP spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said at a press briefing.

(Yes, I support that statement that we should not fight. That is what our government and every agency of our government is doing.)

“Hindi po tayo nakikipag-away sa kahit sino mang bansa sa WPS. Tayo lamang ay tumatayo sa ating karapatan na pinagkaloob ng Diyos sa atin, yung ating maritime entitlements, yung ating sovereignty and sovereign rights,” he added.

(We are not fighting with any country in the WPS. We are just standing up for our God-given rights, our maritime entitlements, our sovereignty and sovereign rights.)

Earlier, Duterte cautioned the Philippine government against picking fights with other countries, including China.

Speaking at a gathering with Filipino workers in Hong Kong on Sunday, Duterte suggested that resolving issues, such as the maritime dispute between China and the Philippines, is better handled through diplomatic talks rather than heated exchanges online.

“Alam ninyo dapat kasi hindi nakikipag-away ang gobyerno o ang opsiyal ng gobyerno sa kahit na anong bansa dahil napaka-complicated ng relasyon ng dalawang bansa. Hindi lang siya isang bagay lang, maraming aspeto ang relasyon ng Pilipinas sa bawat bansa,” Duterte said.

(The government or a government official should not pick a fight with any country because bilateral relations are very complicated. It is not just a single matter; there are many aspects to the Philippines' relationship with every nation.)

Trinidad said that the Philippines can pursue diplomacy while maintaining its defense posture. For Trinidad, every Filipino has a moral obligation to stand up for the Philippines’ national interest.

“The Arbitral Tribunal of 2016 is a legal landmark that upheld the maritime entitlements of the Philippines. Ito ay dapat ibandera ng bawat Pilipino,” he said.

On Sunday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) also rebuked other Philippine government bodies and officials over their comments about China.

The DFA said these comments can undermine diplomatic efforts and that public officials must be aligned with the administration in its response.

"Under the Constitution, the President is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy," the DFA said in a statement.

"Individual officials, agencies or sectors do not independently determine the direction of our international relations. Whatever personal convictions public officials may hold, their public platforms carry institutional responsibilities. They may not pursue preferred approaches toward China, or any other international partner, without regard for the consequences on the government's overall policy," it added.

Trinidad said that on the side of the AFP and the Department of National Defense (DND), they have a mandate to perform to secure the integrity of the national territory, protect sovereignty, and look after the welfare of the Filipino people.

According to him, the military will continue its efforts. —VAL, GMA News