National Security Adviser Eduardo Año emphasized that the Philippines will not agree to de-escalate the situation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on China’s terms.
“Hindi tayo magpapaalam sa kanila (We will not ask permission from them),” Año said in an interview shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address on Monday.
Año challenged the remarks of China’s foreign ministry stating that the Philippines should seek permission whenever conducting resupply operations for troops at the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, following the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) on the South China Sea held on July 2 in Manila.
He clarified that the primary objective of the country’s recent interaction with China through the BCM is to de-escalate tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“Ito ay isang understanding na pauhin natin ‘yung sitwasyon sa Ayungin Shoal para wala nang masaktan at para makapa-resupply tayo ng mga tropa sa (This is a mere understanding to ease the situation at the Ayungin Shoal so that no one will get hurt and we could resupply our troops stationed at) BRP Sierra Madre without giving out national interest quest to our sovereignty and protection of our sovereign right,” Año said.
He mentioned that the Philippines and China can always review the situation in the West Philippine Sea.
“It’s an understanding. Wala siyang commitment. Hindi siya agreement (There is no commitment. It was not an agreement),” he stressed.
Año noted that the BCM would only push for peaceful resolutions between both nations over territorial disputes, “but not necessarily yield the country’s sovereignty.”
In a separate statement, Ano said that the NSC fully supports President Marcos Jr’s stand regarding the de-escalation issue in WPS.
“I think the President simply wanted to make clear in his SONA his administration’s unwavering position in the West Philippine Sea. That no amount of aggression or coercion will change his administration’s position on the matter. The WPS is our seas, we exercise sovereign rights over it, and it is our patrimony from present and future generations.”
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