Continuing tension in WPS ‘far more serious’ than we think — PH envoy to US

FILE PHOTO: Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

MANILA, Philippines — The continuing tension between China and the Philippines over the West Philippine Sea is far more serious than how people perceive it is, said Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez on Tuesday.

Romualdez, in an interview over ANC’s Headstart, said it is time for the Philippines, along with its allies, to stand against the continuing aggression over the territory.

“I think this is the time for us to really be together — all united into pushing back. Because, as I have said, the seriousness of this situation is far more than we think it is,” said Romualdez.

“Some people think it’s just politics, [but] it is very serious. We can actually lose the country if we don’t watch it. That’s how serious this thing is. One day we may find that we don’t have a country anymore,” Romualdez added.

But the envoy noted that the country’s officials should not “escalate” the problem. According to Romualdez, the Philippine government should still reach out to China as much as it can.

“This time, we [should] talk to them from a position of strength. In the past, we were always trying to appease them — we will do this, we will do that and everything else. Nothing has come out of it. More aggression took place,” he pointed out.

But the envoy stressed that the Philippines should reiterate its demands and tell China to “stop all these things that’s happening right now.”

The tension between China and the Philippines grew following the August 5 water cannon incident in Ayungin Shoal.

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