By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Alan Peter S. Cayetano on Thursday described as “routine” the reported Chinese radio warnings against Philippine and American military aircraft operating in the South China Sea.
“Did they report how many times Filipinos asked the Chinese to leave our waters? As I said this is routine. So anyone who comes into you, you go over the Paracels, the Vietnamese will say, ‘this is Vietnamese land.’ The Chinese will say, ‘no, it’s Chinese so you go on our land.’ So it’s routine,” Mr. Cayetano told reporters after a forum in Pasay City.
According to a BBC report, China radioed Philippine and American military planes flying over South China Sea to stay away from the Chinese-controlled artificial islands in the region to prevent misunderstanding.
In a speech on Tuesday, President Rodrigo R. Duterte responded to the report and called on China to temper its behavior in South China Sea, adding that he did not want a quarrel with the country.
“You cannot create an island. It’s man-made and you say that the air above this artificial island is yours. That is wrong because those waters are — what would (be) consider(ed) international sea. And the right of innocent passage is guaranteed. It does not need any permission to sail through the open seas,” he said.
Sought for comment on the President’s remarks, Mr. Cayetano said it showed closer relations with China since Mr. Duterte felt “comfortable enough to communicate” his sentiments. He added that his recent statements did not weaken the two country’s relationship.
“In fact, I interpret as even a closer relationship because the closer you are, the more you can tell each other your feelings,” he said, noting as well that the President cited the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLoS).
“I believe this is an honest off-the-cuff remark of an incident that he feels should be addressed,” he added.
Mr. Cayetano also said he, along with Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr.,on informed the President Wednesday afternoon that the radio warnings were just “routine.”
Nevertheless, the country’s top diplomat said Mr. Duterte has instructed them to coordinate with their counterparts in China to find a “better way of talking to each other.”
“I was with the Defense secretary and the NSA secretary then we went to the President this afternoon, and we told him, ‘Sir, this is routine. We continue to tell anyone who goes into our waters, fly over, that you are in Philippine territory,’ and they continue to tell us,” he said.
“But the President gave us instructions regardless if it’s routine, regardless of good intentions, whatever, that’s not how friends treat each other so he asked me please, talk to your counterparts. We’ve worked out many things in the past, he’s confident we can work this out,” he added.
Asked for updates on the joint exploration with China, Mr. Cayetano said they are targeting a framework agreement between the two countries by September.
He said he will head to China “soon” to discuss the draft framework with his counterparts. He hoped that the agreement will favor the Philippines, similar to the Malampaya gas project deal.
“All parties have to set aside for the meantime their claims both to territory and sovereign rights so that you can have joint exploration,” he said.
“So in our case, let’s stop fighting, let’s start drilling,” he added.