Naniniwala ang National Maritime Council (NMC) na hindi mali ang patuloy na pagsusulong ng diplomasya ng Pilipinas sa paghanap ng resolusyon sa mga usapin sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“One of those actions that we are considering, as you all know, in any activities naman in the past, our Department of Foreign Affairs would probably file a diplomatic protest or note verbale and this is seriously being studied by the Department of Foreign Affairs,” —Lopez.
Pahayag ito ni NMC Spokesperson Alexander Lopez, kasunod ng pinakahuling agresyon ng China sa WPS, na naganap sa Escoda Shoal, kahapon ng madaling araw (August 19).
Sa press briefing sa Malacañang, sinabi ng opisyal na walang maidudulot na maganda para sa Pilipinas, kung magkakaroon ng mas maraming kinetic actions o tatapatan rin ng agresibong aksyon ng bansa, ang ginagawa ng China.
“Maybe if you’re referring to more kinetic actions, that will not be to the best interest of our country and of China, and even in the region,” —Lopez.
Dagdag pa ng opisyal, malinaw ang direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., na resolbahin ang mga usapin sa pamamagitan ng diplomatikong pamamaraan na hindi gumagamit ng pwersa.
“So, we’re looking at this approach. We can never go wrong by using this diplomatic and peaceful approach and we are compliant ‘no to the Code of Conduct that we have signed in 2002, that among others, parties will restraint ‘no, will exercise restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or even escalate the dispute in the area among others,” —Lopez. | ulat ni Racquel Bayan
