‘Worry about other side,’ says China’s envoy on attack in disputed seas
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Thu, 07 Mar 2019 06:40:43 +0000
CHINESE Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua has assured the Philippines that China was not out to attack anybody in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), maintaining that Beijing advocates peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the first anniversary celebration of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) in Malacañang on Wednesday night, Zhao said there was nothing to worry about any scenario in which China would launch attacks in the disputed waters since it has no such policy.
“Well, we are worried about possible attacks from the other side. We don’t worry about China attacking anybody because it is not our policy,” Zhao said in a chance interview.
Asked to identify the other side, the ambassador said: “Use your imagination.”
Zhao made the remarks after US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo assured the Philippines that Washington would defend and protect the Philippines in case any of its vessels or military aircraft were attacked in disputed territory.
Pompeo, who met with President Rodrigo Duterte in Manila last week, claimed that such US action would be triggered under its obligations in the mutual defense treaty (MDT) signed with the Philippines.
Duterte welcomed the US’ public pronouncement of support but expressed qualms about the processes that would require the approval of American lawmakers.
“America said, ‘We will protect you. We will — your backs are covered I’m sure. I said, it’s okay,’” Duterte said during a campaign sortie of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan on Sunday in Zamboanga City.
“But the problem here is they would invoke the (Mutual Defense Treaty) which was entered into by us, by our ancestors… But in America, it has to pass through Congress. Any declaration of war will pass Congress. You know how b***s*** America’s Congress is,” he said.
During Wednesday’s interview, Zhao insisted that China was more concerned about safeguarding peace, stability and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
“Maybe you would expect the Chinese side to be very concerned about these remarks. We are concerned more, it’s about the peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said, reacting to Pompeo’s remarks.
He cautioned that every country would “suffer if peace and stability becomes something to the opposite, that it’s chaos or conflict.”
“I think it is in the common interest of all countries, including China, including the United States and Asean countries, that we keep the peace and stability there and we keep the freedom of navigation in the whole South China Sea open,” Zhao added.
Meanwhile, Zhao said China was currently verifying reports that its fishing vessels were driving away Filipino fishermen in the sandbars near the Pag-asa island.
“We are checking and we are in close coordination with DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and we will be checking whether it is true or not but rest assured China is committed to peacefully settle the disputes we have. We are working very well in managing very well our differences,” he said.
“I took note of the media report, but whether it is authentic or not it is a something subject to clarification,” the ambassador said.
Zhao stressed China was currently working on the Code of Conduct for the disputed waterway to help maintain peace and stability in the area.
“In the meantime, we are working on the CoC, Code of Conduct, and the Filipino side is the country coordinator for China-Asean relationship so we are hoping that we can make further progress in our joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea,” he said.
It was reported previously that Filipino fishermen were being driven away by Chinese vessels whenever they came anywhere near the closest sandbar to Pag-asa, about three kilometers from the island.
Mayor Roberto del Mundo of Kalayaan — a town in Palawan from which Pag-asa, internationally known as Thitu Island, is being administered — said town officials were worried that the incident would affect their fishing activities.
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