‘China will not go to war’ – Locsin

China is seeking military supremacy not only in the South China Sea region but also
beyond with its first home-built aircraft carrier known as Liaoning. (File photo from AP)

MANILA, Philippines — “China will not go to war,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said this Tuesday on Twitter amid issues between the Philippines and China surrounding the West Philippine Sea.

“At the Munich Security Conference, she threw away deterrence by admitting she has only a minimal nuclear arsenal,” Locsin said in a tweet. “She wants to be richer and richer. Not dead and be deader. Other powers want that for others and so for themselves.”

China will not go to war. At the Munich Security Conference she threw away deterrence by admitting she has only a minimal nuclear arsenal. She wants to be rich and get richer. Not dead and be deader. Other powers want that for others and so for themselves. https://t.co/j3gmKNGmOi

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 25, 2019

In an earlier tweet, Locsin also responded to the tweet of human rights and environmental activist Tony La Viña, who noted: “China is a big, powerful country. We are weaker — militarily and economically, although the law is on our side. But China is united while we are divided. Guess who will prevail if our disunity continues?”

China is a big, powerful country. We are weaker—militarily and economically, although the law is on our side. But China is united while we are divided. Guess who will prevail if our disunity continues?

— Tony La Viña (@tonylavs) June 25, 2019

Locsin responded with this tweet: “The US Seventh Fleet can destroy all life forms on the Asian mainland with the first salvo while the US is too far away to reach. Even cockroaches will perish. We might all be dead but China won’t prevail.”

The US Seventh Fleet can destroy all life forms on the Asian mainland with the first salvo while the US is too far away to reach. Even cockroaches will perish. We might all be dead but China won't prevail. https://t.co/Dnn501zoDR

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) June 25, 2019

In March, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo assured that his government remained “committed” to the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with the Philippines.

“We remain committed to supporting not only the Philippines in that effort, and the Philippines needs to do its part as well, but all the countries in the region so these incredibly vital sea-lanes remain open and China does not pose a threat to closing them down,” Pompeo said.

Under Article 4 of the MDT, in case of an armed attack in the Pacific area, each party “would act to meet the common dangers in accordance with its constitutional processes.”

READ: US vows PH defense vs attack in South China Sea

Then in April, Locsin tweeted: “The US is and will remain our only military ally. You can’t make an ally out of a near power — too close for comfort.”

“Natural allies are US across Pacific and Russia behind China. With China friendship is wisest; never a military alliance. The logic of balance of power,” he added.

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(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)