Retitled: Philippine protests against China under Duterte

[adroth]

Philippines issues first protest vs China under Duterte
(Associated Press)  | Updated January 16, 2017 - 4:22pm

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/01/16/1663254/philippines-issues-first-protest-vs-china-under-duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has filed a low-key diplomatic protest with China after a U.S. think thank reported that Beijing appears to have installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on its man-made islands in the strategically vital South China Sea, the country's top diplomat said Monday.

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said a note verbale was issued after the report came out last month.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies report said that anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems designed to guard against missile attack have been placed on all seven of China's newly created islands.

Yasay told CNN Philippines that Manila had responded, but did so quietly.

< Edited >

[adroth]

Philippines says protested against China arms buildup on South China Sea isles

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-southchinasea-philippines-china-idUSKBN1501E4?il=0

The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest with China, its foreign minister said on Monday, over Beijing's installation last year of anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems on its manmade islands in the disputed South China Sea.

The protest note was sent to the Chinese embassy in December, after confirmation of a report from the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies about a weapons buildup on seven artificial islands in the Spratlys.

< Edited >

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay told CNN Philippines it was important to raise concerns carefully, and not create a big row.

"I just want to assure the Filipino people that when we take action at engaging China in this dispute, we do not want to take such aggressive, provocative action that will not solve the problem," he said.

< Edited >

[adroth]

Defense chief: China militarization in West PHL Sea 'very troubling'
Published January 17, 2017 2:43pm

China's militarization of artificial islands in the West Philippine Sea is troubling considering its government's call for peace amid the territorial dispute, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

"The actions of China in militarizing those disputed features are very troubling," Lorenzana said in a statement. "They do not square with the Chinese government's rhetoric that its purpose is peaceful and friendly."

< Edited >

- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/596044/news/nation/defense-chief-china-militarization-in-west-phl-sea-very-troubling#sthash.BhaxjfZ6.dpuf

[adroth]

Duterte says China's Xi threatened war if Philippines drills for oil
Manuel Mogato

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-southchinasea-philippines-china/duterte-says-chinas-xi-threatened-war-if-philippines-drills-for-oil-idUKKCN18F1E9

< Edited >

In remarks that could infuriate China, Duterte hit back at domestic critics who said he has gone soft on Beijing by refusing to push it to comply with an award last year by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, which ruled largely in favour of the Philippines.

Duterte said he discussed it with Xi when the two met in Beijing on Monday, and got a firm, but friendly warning.

“We intend to drill oil there, if it’s yours, well, that’s your view, but my view is, I can drill the oil, if there is some inside the bowels of the earth because it is ours,” Duterte said in a speech, recalling his conversation with Xi.

“His response to me, ‘we’re friends, we don’t want to quarrel with you, we want to maintain the presence of warm relationship, but if you force the issue, we’ll go to war.”

< Edited >

[adroth]

Philippines questions Chinese presence at Benham Rise
By Audrey Morallo (philstar.com) | Updated March 10, 2017 - 6:40pm

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/03/10/1679794/philippines-questions-chinese-presence-benham-rise

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sent on Friday a letter to the Chinese embassy in Manila following reports on the presence of Chinese ships at Benham Rise which has been declared part of the country’s exclusive economic zone.

In a statement, DFA said that it had sent a note to the embassy of China to seek clarification on this reported incursion into the country’s territorial waters.

The Philippines also expressed its concern on the presence of Chinese ships in the area which has been recognized by the United Nations as part of the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.

“The Philippines has expressed concern about the reported presence of Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf as Philippine waters,” the DFA said.

< Edited >

"We are concerned about the presence of a Chinese ship in Benham Rise, which has been recognized by the United Nations as part of the Philippines," Ernesto Abella, the presidential spokesperson, said in a statement.

< Edited >

[adroth]

Duterte already protested China 'militarization' of S. China Sea - spokesman
Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at Feb 12 2018 03:31 PM

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/12/18/duterte-already-protested-china-militarization-of-s-china-sea-spokesman

MANILA - Malacañang on Monday denied the Philippines under President Rodrigo Duterte had never protested China’s “militarization” in the South China Sea.

The Duterte administration has been criticized for supposedly letting China get away with construction activities in its artificial islands in disputed waters.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, however, said contrary to critics’ claims, “we have protested not only the building of islands but also the alleged ‘militarization’ of the islands.”

“The Philippine government has consistently filed protest. And even during the term of President Duterte, we have filed protest,” Roque said.

“[This is] in response to claims that we are not doing anything. We are doing what the government has deemed best to be done.”

< Edited >

[adroth]

Cayetano: Administration unwavering in duty to protect PH sea claims
By: Julius N. Leonen - @inquirerdotnet INQUIRER.net / 08:41 PM February 14, 2018

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday assured that the Duterte administration would be “unwavering” in protecting its territorial claims as it continued bilateral talks with China on the West Philippine Sea dispute.

In a statement on Wednesday, Cayetano disclosed that Filipino and Chinese delegates met for the second meeting of the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on the South China Sea (BCM) on February 13, Tuesday.

Cayetano said that during the BCM, which served as a venue to settle differences “amicably,” the Philippine side brought up its “territorial claims and sovereignty rights issues, and discussed how to manage and prevent incidents on the ground.”

< Edited >

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/164185/cayetano-administration-unwavering-duty-protect-ph-sea-claims#ixzz57MAtTrNb
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

[adroth]

Cayetano: PH eyeing protest vs China planes on Mischief Reef

'We're taking the diplomatic action,' says Philippine Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano after two Chinese military planes were reportedly seen on Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef)
Paterno Esmaquel II
@paterno_ii
Published 5:20 PM, April 18, 2018
Updated 5:20 PM, April 18, 2018

https://www.rappler.com/nation/200516-alan-cayetano-philippines-eyeing-protest-china-military-planes-mischief-reef?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=nation

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday, April 18, that the Philippines is considering filing a diplomatic protest against China over the reported sighting of two Chinese military planes on Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef).

Cayetano had previously said it is no longer the Philippines' strategy to file a diplomatic protest against China at "every opportunity we have."

"We're taking the diplomatic action," Cayetano said on Wednesday, reacting to the banner story of the Philippine Daily Inquirer about two Chinese military planes photographed on Panganiban Reef.

When asked if the diplomatic avenues include filing a diplomatic protest, Cayetano answered, "Yes, it may include that. It depends where and how."

< Edited >

[adroth]

Bilateral meeting

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines already expressed concern over China’s recent activities in the disputed waters in a bilateral meeting held earlier this year.

Quoting Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Roque said the Philippines made use of the bilateral communication mechanism on the South China Sea to convey its take on recent developments.

“They talked about problems in the South China Sea. They discussed the installations of arms and airports in those islands. These were tackled in the bilateral meeting,” he said.

Asked if the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest or used the bilateral meeting to air its concerns, Roque said in a text message: “It was tackled and protests were filed. Both.”

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/167036/duterte-question-chinas-wps-actions#ixzz5G43Oo2n0
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

[adroth]

Palace confirms diplomatic protest vs China
RUTH ABBEY GITA
12 hours ago

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1745807/Manila/Local-News/Palace-confirms-diplomatic-protest-vs-China

THE Philippines has filed a diplomatic note against China over Beijing’s aggressive military actions on its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), Malacañang confirmed Thursday, May 31.

“We did,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a text message to Palace reporters, when asked whether the Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest against China.

“The current administration has acted on incidents, which occurred in the disputed areas over the West Philippine Sea by taking diplomatic actions with China,” he added.

The filing of protest was part of the Philippine government’s bid to pursue all diplomatic avenues to address China’s massive land reclamation of the resource-rich South China Sea.

< Edited >

China, which has expansive claims over the South China Sea, has reportedly continued to boost its war capabilities by “quietly” installing missile systems on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan), Subi (Zamora), and Mischief (Panganiban) reefs in the Spratly Islands.

< Edited >

Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte was not giving up the Philippines’ sovereign rights to its territories in the contested waters.

“The President, who is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy, will not sit on our rights and will never give away even an inch of territory,” the Palace official said.

< Edited >

[adroth]

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1037278

China gave PH 'assurance' on Ayungin incident: Cayetano

By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora June 2, 2018, 12:50 pm

MANILA -- Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said Friday China gave "assurance" to the Philippines regarding the latest "incident" in the disputed West Philippine Sea, which prompted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to file a diplomatic protest against its giant neighbor.

Last May 11, a Philippine Navy boat resupplying Filipino troops at the Ayungin Shoal was allegedly challenged and harassed by the Chinese Coast Guard and China’s People's Liberation Army Navy.

Cayetano explained that the note verbale on the incident was filed just recently because it "was not settled immediately" through dialogue.

While he did not elaborate on the issue, the foreign affairs chief said the Philippines already received an assurance from China over the recent incident.

“It’s how we should talk and how our resupplying would not be hampered. And in fact, a feature already went here the other day. The conversation was good -- coast guard to coast guard,” Cayetano said in Filipino.

The country’s filing of a diplomatic protest was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Thursday, a day after a congressional hearing on issues concerning the West Philippine Sea was conducted, where Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano revealed the May 11 incident at the Ayungin Shoal.

The hearing and the announcement followed two separate meetings on the West Philippine Sea: one on Saturday where Cayetano and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua met, and the other one on Monday, where the foreign affairs secretary and Philippine Ambassador to Beijing Jose Santiago Sta. Romana and other high-level officials briefed the Chief Executive on the situation in the disputed waterway.

It was not clear, however, when the DFA issued the latest note verbale and when China gave its response.

“If I tell what was filed, where it was filed, et cetera, then it means I’m not following our policy. But as I said, this does not mean all remain classified. At one point in time, this will all come out,” Cayetano said in a mix of English and Filipino. (PNA)

[/size]

[adroth]

‘Someone will press a trigger’: Duterte says China’s claim to disputed islands’ airspace ‘is wrong’ and could be ‘flashpoint’ for conflict

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 14 August, 2018, 10:13pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 15 August, 2018, 4:11am

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2159719/duterte-chinas-claim-airspace-above-disputed-islands-wrong

The Philippine president said on Tuesday that China’s claim to airspace above newly built islands and surrounding waters in the disputed South China Sea “is wrong” and that Beijing’s demands that others leave those areas could become a “flashpoint” for conflict.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks in a speech to an audience that included the American ambassador and other foreign guests were a rare public criticism of China, which he has refused to antagonise to nurture closer relations.

“They have to rethink that, because that would be a flashpoint someday and even, you know, warning others,” Duterte said of China’s actions to uphold its claims in the disputed waters.

He also said that “I hope that China would temper … its behaviour”, warning that in the disputed sea, “one of these days a hothead commander there will just press a trigger”.

“You cannot create an island, it’s man-made, and you say that the air above these artificial islands is yours. That is wrong because those waters are what we consider international sea,” Duterte said.

< Edited >

[adroth]

‘Someone will press a trigger’: Duterte says China’s claim to disputed islands’ airspace ‘is wrong’ and could be ‘flashpoint’ for conflict

PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 14 August, 2018, 10:13pm
UPDATED : Wednesday, 15 August, 2018, 4:11am

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2159719/duterte-chinas-claim-airspace-above-disputed-islands-wrong

The Philippine president said on Tuesday that China’s claim to airspace above newly built islands and surrounding waters in the disputed South China Sea “is wrong” and that Beijing’s demands that others leave those areas could become a “flashpoint” for conflict.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s remarks in a speech to an audience that included the American ambassador and other foreign guests were a rare public criticism of China, which he has refused to antagonise to nurture closer relations.

“They have to rethink that, because that would be a flashpoint someday and even, you know, warning others,” Duterte said of China’s actions to uphold its claims in the disputed waters.

He also said that “I hope that China would temper … its behaviour”, warning that in the disputed sea, “one of these days a hothead commander there will just press a trigger”.

“You cannot create an island, it’s man-made, and you say that the air above these artificial islands is yours. That is wrong because those waters are what we consider international sea,” Duterte said.

< Edited >

China's reply

China rebuffs Duterte's S.China Seas rebuke
Reuters
Posted at Aug 16 2018 03:15 PM

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/16/18/china-rebuffs-dutertes-schina-seas-rebuke

BEIJING - China rebuffed Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's call for Beijing to rethink its conduct in the South China Sea on Thursday, saying China had the right to react to foreign ships or aircraft that get close to its islands.

Duterte said China has no right to repel foreign aircraft and boats passing by its artificial islands in the disputed waterway, and that he hoped China would "temper" its behavior and stop restricting movements.

In a statement sent to Reuters, China's Foreign Ministry said the Spratly Islands are China's inherent territory and that China respects the right to freedom of navigation and overflight that all countries enjoy in the South China Sea under international law.

< Edited >

"China urges the relevant party to meet China halfway, and jointly protect the present good situation that has not come easily in the South China Sea," the ministry added, without elaborating.

< Edited>

[adroth]

Philippines' Duterte warns China to back off disputed island
AFP News   AFP News4 April 2019

Yahoo

President Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would suffer heavily in the process

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China "touches" it amid rising tensions over the key waterway.

Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijing's expansive claims to the sea -- a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it.

But as the Philippine military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had "swarmed" the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, the Philippine president spoke out late Thursday.

"I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there," Duterte said in speech to prosecutors.

"If you touch it, that's another story. Then I will tell my soldiers 'prepare for suicide missions'", he added.

Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be futile and that the Philippines would lose and suffer heavily in the process.

< Edited >

[adroth]

Palace confirms diplomatic protest vs China
RUTH ABBEY GITA
12 hours ago

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1745807/Manila/Local-News/Palace-confirms-diplomatic-protest-vs-China

THE Philippines has filed a diplomatic note against China over Beijing’s aggressive military actions on its artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea (West Philippine Sea), Malacañang confirmed Thursday, May 31.

“We did,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a text message to Palace reporters, when asked whether the Philippine government has lodged a diplomatic protest against China.

“The current administration has acted on incidents, which occurred in the disputed areas over the West Philippine Sea by taking diplomatic actions with China,” he added.

The filing of protest was part of the Philippine government’s bid to pursue all diplomatic avenues to address China’s massive land reclamation of the resource-rich South China Sea.

< Edited >

China, which has expansive claims over the South China Sea, has reportedly continued to boost its war capabilities by “quietly” installing missile systems on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan), Subi (Zamora), and Mischief (Panganiban) reefs in the Spratly Islands.

< Edited >

Roque assured that President Rodrigo Duterte was not giving up the Philippines’ sovereign rights to its territories in the contested waters.

“The President, who is the chief architect of the nation’s foreign policy, will not sit on our rights and will never give away even an inch of territory,” the Palace official said.

< Edited >