Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. FILE PHOTO / MALACAÑANG
MANILA, Philippines – “That’s China’s take and it is a free world; it can say anything it wants.”
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said this on Saturday after China denied that a Chinese fishing vessel rammed a Philippine fishing boat and abandoned its crew in Recto (Reed) Bank.
Interesting. That's China's take and it is a free world; it can say anything it wants. We say what we want because it is a free world for us too; but in our case we speak from the law of the sea. But still everyone's free.
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 15, 2019
The diplomat then said the Philippines may also explain its side on the collision as it is also a “free world” for Filipinos too.
“We say what we want because it is a free world for us too; but in our case we speak from the law of the sea. But still everyone’s free,” Locsin said in his tweet.
In a statement, Chinese Embassy in Manila claimed that the Chinese captain was planning to rescue the Filipino fishermen but it was afraid they would be “besieged” by Philippine vessels.
READ: China: No such thing as hit-and-run incident
However, the boat captain of the Philippine fishing vessel was certain that it was the Chinese fishing boat that hit their boat on June 9.
READ: Captain of sunken PH boat: ‘The Chinese did it’
‘US was silent’
Locsin, in another tweet, downplayed the United States’ efforts to protect Philippines’ maritime claims, noting that the US became silent on the West Philippine Sea dispute.
“The last time the US opened its mouth it told PH and China to stand down in Scarborough and withdraw. We did. China stayed. The US was silent. Silence gives consent. We lost,” he said.
The last time the US opened its mouth it told PH and China to stand down in Scarborough and withdraw. We did. China stayed. The US was silent. Silence gives consent. We lost. Under Trump this is supposed to change. Obama's craven diplomats must be purged from State. https://t.co/d7coOdmaEd
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 15, 2019
The Foreign Affairs chief said US’ silence over the dispute is “supposed to change” under incumbent US President Donald Trump.
He then criticized former US President Barack Obama’s “craven” diplomats, saying they should be “purged from the State.” (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)