President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino III urged Chinese authorities on Thursday to “balance what they are saying with the truth,” days after The People’s Daily newspaper, an avowed mouthpiece of the Chinese communist party, accused the Philippines of stirring up tensions in disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Aquino issued what could be the strongest statement from the Philippine government since it imposed a policy of de-escalation in the wake of a naval standoff with China over the Scarborough Shoal off the coast of Zambales.
“It’s not clear with me what the provocative statements are that have been said to have come from Philippine officials. But we know there are many things being said from the other side,” the President told reporters.
“They should read what has been written from their end and, with all due respect, perhaps they should balance what they are saying with the truth,” he added.
The President on Monday said that he was considering asking the US to help monitor activities in the disputed areas through the superpower’s surveillance aircraft.
The Chinese newspaper afterwards issued a statement accusing the Philippine government of stirring up tensions.
“It has been almost three weeks since our Coast Guard vessel pulled out [of Scarborough Shoal]. If their vessels… have also gone home, there’s already no more issue. So, who could be the one prolonging this issue over the Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc?” Aquino said.
Aquino said also that the Philippines was well within its right to ask the US for assistance in monitoring its territories, including those disputed with China in the West Philippine Sea.
“America is a treaty ally. We have a lack; they have a capability,” he said when asked about the Philippines’ plan to ask the United States to deploy surveillance aircraft to monitor activities in the disputed areas in West Philippine Sea.
“If ever our capability would fall short, I believe we can approach them to add to our situational awareness especially in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.