Escudero sees diplomacy as only solution to China issues
HARASSMENT IN WPS A China Coast Guard vessel trains its water cannon on BRP Datu Sanday, which is on its way to Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The latest confrontation between Manila and Beijing happened on Aug. 25, leaving the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources boat damaged. —NESTOR CORRALES
MANILA, Philippines — How do you solve a problem like China?
For Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the answer is still through diplomacy.
“I often hear that: We should take action. We should fight back…What do you want? War? No one wants war,” Escudero said in Filipino at a press briefing in Sorsogon on Tuesday.
The Senate leader was asked about China’s continued bullying in the West Philippine Sea.
The latest incident involved a Chinese military helicopter seen hovering closely to a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight over the West Philippine Sea.
READ: PCG hits China Navy chopper’s ‘dangerous maneuvers’ over Scarborough
Escudero cited a survey, which showed that zero percent of Filipinos do not want to go to war with China over territorial disputes.
“What does that mean? There’s only one solution. It’s still diplomacy,” he said in Filipino.
“Even if it’s lacking, even if it’s not enough, even if it doesn’t stop this, no one among us wants the alternative, which is war,” he added.
Besides, Escudero said, it would be “unconstitutional” to wage a war as the Philippines, under the Constitution, renounces it as an instrument of national policy.
“So we can’t do that, and we should not do that,” he added.
The Senate chief also believes President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is already doing the right thing, which is forging alliances against China since the Philippines cannot fight Beijing alone.
“But in the end, what’s important is that we don’t let go of whatever we have in relation to the West Philippine Sea, which is already being done by the current administration,” he said.
