Duterte's diplomatic "red lines" that must not be crossed

[adroth]

Cayetano: Duterte ready for war in West Philippine Sea
By: Marlon Ramos - Reporter / @MRamosINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:26 AM May 29, 2018

< Edited >

Cayetano gave assurance of President Duterte’s readiness to defend the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea before Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials who attended the weekly flag-raising ceremony at their head office on Roxas Boulevard in Manila.

‘Bahala na’

“The President has said that. If anyone gets the natural resources in the West Philippine Sea, he will go to war,” Cayetano said in his speech, an official transcription of which was provided to reporters by the DFA’s Office of Public Diplomacy.

“He said, ‘Bahala na.’ [But] he will go to war,” Cayetano said.

< Edited >

‘Red lines’

But Cayetano said the President, who has been criticized for his refusal to confront China with the Philippines’ 2016 victory in the arbitration of the two countries’ territorial row, had actually warned that he would go to war against Beijing if it broke the “red lines” his administration had set in dealing with the South China Sea dispute.

The first red line, he said, is for Beijing not to build anything on Panatag Shoal, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, the site of a two-month standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships in 2012 that led to Manila’s challenge to Beijing’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea in the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

China should also not attempt to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, where the government grounded it in 1999 to mark Philippine territory in the Spratly archipelago, he added.

“Our soldiers should not be harassed when they deliver supplies or when they repair the runways,” Cayetano said, referring to the small airstrip on Pag-asa (Thitu), the biggest Philippine-occupied island in the Spratlys.

“Another red line is that nobody will get natural resources there on their own,” he said.

The President has spoken about joint exploration for oil and natural gas with China in the West Philippine Sea, likening it to “co-ownership” and drawing fire from critics, who have pointed out that his idea runs counter to the Constitution, which reserves natural resources in Philippine territory exclusively to Filipinos.

< Edited >

“Even the President himself told (Chinese) President Xi Jinping, ‘That is ours. The West Philippine Sea is ours. We want to start digging for oil and gas in the South China Sea.’ How much stronger a statement can that be?” he said.

“At the right time, we will prove you wrong because nothing is secret forever. Even the US, they declassify materials,” he said.

“When we declassify all of these, once we have achieved our purposes in the future, you will see that the DFA was not remiss in filing diplomatic action,” he added.

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[horge]

...and from the very same article, something contradicting Cayetano's statements about "what Du30 said"

Cayetano’s remarks seemed to contradict the President’s recent pronouncements that he preferred to maintain friendship with China rather
than engage the Asian giant in a war over the two countries’ territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

Addressing the 120th anniversary of the Philippine Navy on May 22, the President reiterated that he would not go to a war he could not win.

“Whether you accept it or not, that’s the reality on the ground,” the Pres said.

In a speech in Davao City on Feb. 10, he said: “This is not the time to be fighting over the South China Sea because it will only lead to war.”

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Sovereignty-based objections to 'joint-exploitation' are a red herring, though.

[adroth]

...and from the very same article, something contradicting Cayetano's statements about "what Du30 said"

Statements made at different venues pieced together by editors.

Duterte's own statements made at the PN anniversary are available here:

http://defenseph.net/drp/index.php?topic=750.msg11119#msg11119

His statement was in reference to calls for a more vigorous response to Chinese actions on the islands they already control. What Cayetano is referring to is the administration's response to trip-wire changes to the status quo.

[dr demented]

The first red line, he said, is for Beijing not to build anything on Panatag Shoal, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, the site of a two-month standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships in 2012 that led to Manila’s challenge to Beijing’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea in the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't it suspected that Scarborough Shoal is considered by the US to be a "red line" as well, which prompted the A-10 overflights of the shoal back in 2016?

It reminds me of the Monroe Doctrine of the 1820s, in which the Americans told the European powers to keep their hands off the then newly independent nations of Central and South America.  In reality, the Monroe Doctrine was enforced by the British, who quietly made a similar declaration, and which had the actual might (in the form of the powerful British Navy) to be able to enforce such a doctrine, while the fledgling American nation was still too small to be able to do so.

[Kylyne]

Chinese forces harass Philippine Navy ship — Alejano
Read more at https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/06/01/1820599/chinese-forces-harass-philippine-navy-ship-alejano#6SdvcS6Ko0fmrGSU.99

"MANILA, Philippines — Combined forces of China’s Coast Guard and Navy harassed a Philippine Navy ship transporting supplies for a small contingent of Filipino soldiers guarding Ayungin Shoal off Palawan, a Marine captain-turned-congressman revealed yesterday."

[edited]

"He said the Navy’s BRP Benguet, a landing craft inherited from the US, was carrying provisions for Filipino soldiers stationed on the aging BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin when a Chinese Coast Guard vessel with bow number 3368 and a Chinese Navy ship with bow number 549 tried to stop it."

[edited]

“When the Philippine Navy ship launched a rubber boat to resupply Sierra Madre, a chopper of the Chinese Navy hovered at a close and dangerous distance. The chopper was so close that seawater splash entered the rubber boat,” he pointed out."



Can this incident be considered as crossing the red line?

[adroth]

Can this incident be considered as crossing the red line?

Two important points here to consider here.

When Mayor Bitoon, the previous mayor of Kalayaan, was helping supply Sierra Madre, he actually procured the services of ship captains . . . who specialized in getting items to wherever they needed to be with little regard for obstacles (if you know what I mean) . . . who used their own civilian vessels. Even when they were doing things that were low key, they would still get harrassed, but would eventually still get through.

In the Benguet incident, didn't the rubber boat still get through? A true blockade would have stopped all vessels.

This time round, the PN is using one of its larger vessels for resupply. There is a reason for that . . . Alejano ought to know why that is the case . . . and is trying to force the administration's hand to abandon its fence-mending initiatives and spill the beans.

Whether or not the Chinese already know what's going on is unclear. If they do . . . then that could also explain how aggressive they got.

Alejano is trying to use the administration's policies against it to serve his own political ends. What's sad is, the administration he is working to undermine has actually done more for Sierra Madre than the last one did in its 6 years, despite all its bluster.

FINALLY . . . the PN's own FB page shows improvements to BRP Sierra Madre

https://www.facebook.com/navalforceswest/posts/1448060261915503



That means . . . information about these improvements are fair game. This how the garrison NOW looks on Google Maps.



This is how it looked during the previous administration. Contrast this with the condition of the ship today. Details of what else has been done within the vessel are not open to the public.

[dr demented]

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)

[adroth]

Delfin Lorenzana
@del_lorenzana

https://twitter.com/del_lorenzana/status/1378211290066251778

The Chinese Ambassador to the PH has a lot of explaining to do. There are still 44 Chinese vessels that are in Julian Felipe Reef. I am no fool. The weather has been good so far, so they have no reason to stay there. These vessels should be on their way out. Umalis na kayo diyan.

[adroth]

https://twitter.com/DFAPHL/status/1378959038092873733

[adroth]

Duterte stands by Lorenzana’s remark on Julian Felipe Reef
By Azer Parrocha  April 5, 2021, 5:02 pm

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1135783

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is standing by the strong statement made by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana demanding the immediate departure of the remaining 44 Chinese vessels from the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, Malacañang said Monday.

Lorenzana on Saturday told the remaining 44 Chinese vessels to leave, saying they had no more reason to take shelter there since the weather has cleared.

In response, the Chinese Embassy in Manila called Lorenzana’s remark “unprofessional”, maintaining its historical claim over the feature which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

“Of course, the President stands by the statements of our Secretary of Defense,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview over CNN Philippines.

Roque, however, pointed out that the presence of Chinese ships in the area would not lead to war.

“I hasten to add that the President has been clear that this is not an issue that will lead to war between friendly nations. We are hoping that our friendly relations will soon resolve this latest impasse,” he added.

In a Palace press briefing aired over PTV-4, Roque cited Duterte’s speech during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September 2020 where the latter affirmed the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s (PCA) ruling in favor of the Philippines’ arbitration case against China’s expansive maritime claims in the disputed sea.

“Hindi po nagbabago ang posisyon ng ating Presidente. Eto po yung kanyang nabanggit na salita sa UN General Assembly. Hindi po natin isasakripisyo, hindi natin ipamimigay ang ating national territory at ang ating mga exclusive economic zone (The President’s position has not changed. He mentioned this during his speech at the UN General Assembly. We will not sacrifice or give away our national territory and EEZ),” he said.

Roque said Duterte also believes that friendly relations between the Philippines and China will result in the peaceful resolution of this impasse.

“Ang posisyon po ng Presidente, paninindigan natin ang ating karapatan pero hindi po to isang bagay para tayo po ay gumamit ng dahas. Kampante po ang ating Presidente na dahil nga po mero tayong malapit na pagkakaibigan mareresolba ang hidwaan na ‘to (The President’s position is that we will fight for our rights, but this is no reason for us to use force. Our President is confident that our strong ties would resolve this impasse),” he added.

He also reiterated support for Lorenza’s demand for Chinese vessels to leave the Julian Felipe Reef.

“I think Secretary Lorenzana was correct in pointing out that we consider that area as part also of Philippine territory and exclusive economic zone,” he said.

‘Sovereignty non-negotiable’

In a separate statement, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo expressed opposition over the “unjustified stay” of Chinese vessels at the Julian Felipe Reef, saying it could result in “unwanted hostilities” between the two countries.

“While we recognize the historical and cultural ties with China that have evolved into a productive relationship, its present territorial incursions is producing an unwelcome stain in their bond and may trigger unwanted hostilities that both countries would rather not pursue, as destructiveness consequences are not only undesirable, they are abhorrent as well and anathema to the peace of the region,” Panelo said.

Panelo insisted that the country’s sovereignty is “non-negotiable” despite the Philippines’ improved ties with China.

“Let it be clear to all countries of the world that are protective of their own sovereignties. Like them, we are fiercely protective of ours. We can negotiate on matters of mutual concern and benefit, but make no mistake about it -- our sovereignty is non-negotiable,” he added.

He said the matter of territorial dispute has to be resolved in the “diplomatic negotiating table or by the dictates of international law.”

The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea earlier expressed concern over a Philippine Coast Guard report that about 220 Chinese fishing vessels, believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia personnel, were sighted in line formation at the Julian Felipe Reef on March 7.

The reef is located approximately 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza, Palawan.

The Department of Foreign Affairs expressed support over the DND's demand for the remaining Chinese ships' withdrawal from the Julian Felipe Reef.

"[T]he Philippines’ position on this continued Chinese presence in the WPS has been unequivocal, as articulated by the recent statement of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea and the statement today by the Department of National Defense," the DFA said.

On March 21, the Philippines filed a diplomatic protest over the presence of around 200 Chinese ships at the Julian Felipe Reef.

The DFA on Monday “strongly” denounced the Chinese embassy’s “unprofessional” comment against Lorenzana.

“The DFA strongly denounces the Embassy’s attempt to impugn the Secretary of National Defense -- a Cabinet official of the Republic of the Philippines -- by calling his statement ‘unprofessional,’” the DFA said in a statement. (PNA)