DFA: Nothing to fear from China’s aircraft carrier

Saying that “nobody can afford to go to war,” the Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday downplayed suggestions the launch of China’s first aircraft carrier would further strain relations between Manila and Beijing.

DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez said the Philippines and China continued to have strong bilateral ties despite a territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

“With what’s happening in the world, nobody can afford to go to war,” Hernandez said, alluding to the distressed world economy and the numerous conflicts already going on between countries.

“What’s important is, whatever problems we have, even with territorial disputes, we will discuss them in a peaceful manner and under a rules-based regime, and that is what we are trying to do,” he said, speaking at The Forum, a weekly Church-organized media forum at Ilustrado Restaurant in Intramuros, Manila.

China recently launched its first aircraft carrier—built from the hull of an old Soviet carrier that was never completely finished—and maintained that it was for training and research purposes.

“We are close neighbors—with 36 years of cordial relations—and both countries are still committed to elevating their relationship to the next level, especially in areas of trade and investment and other cooperations,” Hernandez said.

“Our peoples, both Chinese and Filipinos, have benefited from that relationship, not only in agriculture but in other areas like trade, investment, transnational crime, defense cooperation, travel and tourism,” he said.

Hernandez said the dispute over the Spratlys islands in the West Philippine Sea should be resolved through a “rules based” regime, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

“We are actually trying to build our relationship with them and enhance it to the next level. That is the reason our secretary several weeks ago went to China to make sure our bilateral relations are being pushed and all aspects of the whole range of relations are promoted,” Hernandez said.

“That is also the reason our President is going to China at the end of the month,” he added.