‘Ball is now with DFA,’ says military on Spratlys row

A Chinese salvage and research ship is shown anchored in disputed South China Sea waters near the island of Palawan. AFP/DFA

MANILA, Philippines – The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday said that it would leave to the Department of Foreign Affairs the issue on the recent intrusions of Chinese vessels in Philippine-claimed territories in the disputed Spratlys in South China Sea.

Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez, AFP spokesman, said the military has submitted its recommendation to the DFA, through the Department of National Defense.

“I understand that DFA has come up with a statement and also filed a diplomatic protest and so the ball is now with the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Rodriguez said.

When asked if the military would take action on the recent intrusions, Rodriguez said: “It depends on what the national leadership will say, right now the Department of Foreign Affairs has taken charge of this activity and we are waiting as the Armed Forces of the Philippines to implement whatever policy that the government will undertake regarding that.”

The statement came a day after the DFA filed a new diplomatic protest regarding latest reported sighting of Chinese vessels unloading construction materials like steel posts in the vicinity of The Amy Douglas Bank, 125 nautical miles away from mainland Palawan and within the Philippines’ 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone. The vessels were seen May 21 and 24.

Rodriguez nevertheless reiterated that the military was gearing up to improve its territorial defense capabilities but clarified that the modernization was not entirely because of the recent problems in South China Sea.

“Our development of the armed forces is not aimed at any one country, it’s not aimed at any intrusion, it is just increasing our capabilities so we can properly defend and pursue the mandate of the armed forces… wala tayong kaaway [we have no enemies] actually,” Rodriguez said.

“This is a capability that is really desired for the armed forces, not only for the western Philippines Sea but for the entire archipelago,” he added.

In the meantime, Rodriguez said the military would continue patrolling the disputed areas claimed by the Philippines.

“We will just continue with we are doing as mandated by the constitution which is to protect our people, to ensure the integrity of our territory and also to ensure the sovereignty of state,” Rodriguez said.