West PH Sea primary security challenge - DFA chief

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Metro Manila, Philippines – The situation in the West Philippine Sea remains a primary security challenge, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said in a televised interview on Friday, Jan. 31.

Manalo said as tensions grow in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s mandate is to de escalate through peaceful means.

"We will try to resolve iyong mga issues peacefully and through diplomatic means and in accordance with international law, so iyon ang ginagawa namin [and that’s what we are doing]," he said.

Manalo highlighted the success of a provisional deal with China in Ayungin Shoal, which allowed the Philippines to resupply its troops aboard the grounded BRP Sierra Madre without any untoward incidents.

"What I can say is this arrangement has led to at least three or four missions since na-sign na itong arrangement na walang incident [this arrangement was signed without incident]. And let me just say na tandaan natin nandoon pa iyong ship natin, iyong BRP Sierra Madre, nari-resupply natin ang mga sundalo natin sa Sierra Madre at walang incident [our ship, BRP Sierra Madre, is still there, and we are resupplying our soldiers at Sierra Madre without any incident]," said Manalo.

"So, I think isang example ito of ways that we can, perhaps through diplomatic means, ibaba ng kaunti iyong tension," the DFA chief added.

[Translation: "So, I think, this is an example of ways that we can, perhaps through diplomatic means, reduce the tension a little bit.]

However, Manalo acknowledged the tense situation in other portions of the West Philippine Sea.

"Every time na may meeting kami certainly China kasi mayroon na kaming tinatawag na bilateral consultation mechanism, lagi naming binabanggit kung ano o kino-complain namin iyong harassment na ginagawa nila sa mga iba’t ibang lugar like iyong sa recently iyong sa Bajo de Masinloc," said Manalo.

[Translation: "Every time we have a meeting, especially with China, since we have a bilateral consultation mechanism, we always bring up our complaints about the harassment they are carrying out in various areas, like recently in Bajo de Masinloc]

Deal with China

Marcos said China must stop its aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea if it wants the Philippines to return the US Typhon missile deployed in Luzon, during an ambush interview in Cebu City on Thursday, Jan. 30.

"Let's make a deal with China – stop claiming our territory, stop harassing our fishermen and let them have a living, stop ramming our boats, stop water-cannoning our people, stop firing lasers at us, and stop your aggressive and coercive behavior, and I'll return the Typhon missiles," he said.

The National Security Council (NSC) supported the president’s call for China to cease its provocations.

NSC Adviser Eduardo Año defended the deployment of the US Typhon missile system.

"We wish to emphasize that the Typhon missile system is purely meant for defense purposes and is not directed against any nation," he said in a statement on Friday.