Lacson: Alliances could bolster defense of West PH Sea

Former Senator Panfilo Lacson. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Amid rising conflict, alliances with like-minded countries could bolster the Philippine government’s defense and lessen tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Senatorial hopeful and former Senator Panfilo Lacson shared this view at the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas’ press conference in Dumaguete on Thursday.

During the presser, senatorial candidates were asked what policy they would propose to lessen the conflict in the region. Only Lacson answered.

According to Lacson, he supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to refrain from surrendering, even an inch, of the Philippine territory.

“One thing he is doing now that I personally like is forming alliances with various powerful countries that, if not as strong as China, could become as strong or even stronger than China once consolidated,” he said in Filipino.

Lacson also said he has been “espousing” the “balance of power,” noting that the Philippines wouldn’t be able to withstand China alone.

“So, in forming alliances with other countries, we engage in joint exercises, and they have their interests in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea. The U.S. is there, as well as Canada, Japan, Australia, and other European countries. Their interest lies in the sea lanes—key routes for commerce. Our concern, on the other hand, is national interest because that area is rightfully ours; it’s within our Exclusive Economic Zone. But we can’t directly confront them on our own,” he said in Filipino.

Lacson stressed that resources in the WPS are abundant with an estimated hundreds of billions of barrels of oil and natural gas.

China’s continued aggression in WPS is borne out of a sweeping claim over most of the South China Sea, including the WPS. It’s claim, however, has long been dismissed by an arbitral tribunal.

READ: PH wins arbitration case over South China Sea