No gov’t downplay of China’s actions in West Philippine Sea – Teodoro

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. ambush interview here at SMX convention center in Pasay City. INQUIRER.net/John Eric Mendoza

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro said the government is not downplaying China’s recent aggression near Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

He acknowledged that the June 17 incident in the West Philippine Sea was an  “aggressive and illegal use of force” by China.

Teodoro’s clarification followed the June 21 press conference of Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, who said China’s latest behavior near Ayungin was “probably” a “misunderstanding or accident.”

READ: China’s actions in Ayungin Shoal not an armed attack – Palace

During Monday’s Presidential Communications Office press conference, Teodoro described China’s conduct in the West Philippine Sea as “deliberate act of the Chinese officialdom to prevent [the Philippines] from completing [its] mission.”

“After our visit to our troops in Palawan yesterday where the President personally talked to the troops involved in the RoRe (rotation and resupply), we have now come to the conclusion that it was not a misunderstanding or an accident,” he said.

“We are not downplaying the incident. It was an aggressive and illegal use of force,” he added.

READ: West Philippine Sea: Romualdez wants China, PH to focus on commonalities

Asked why Bersamin said it could have simply been a “misunderstanding or accident,” Teodoro responded that the pronouncement was merely based on a “preliminary assessment.”

“That was a preliminary assessment at the time, but after the trip of the President to Palawan, nag-firm up ‘yung conclusion na talagang deliberate incident ito (the conclusion has firmed up that this was indeed a deliberate incident),” said Teodoro.

Teodoro was referring to Marcos’ trip in the Armed Forces of the Philippines – Western Command in Palawan on Sunday, where he personally met with the naval personnel involved in the June 17 incident in Ayungin.

In his speech, Marcos reiterated that the country will maintain its decision to resolve the conflict in the West Philippine Sea peacefully.

However, Marcos asserted that the country’s “calm and peaceful disposition should not be mistaken for acquiescence,” adding that “Filipinos will not yield to any foreign power.”

Teodoro, for his part, echoed Marcos sentiments, stating that the country “will not give up an inch, not even a millimeter, of [its] territory to any foreign power.”

“We will continue to defend our territory and exercise sovereign rights thereon as we see fit,” he said in the press conference.