MALACAÑANG on Friday asserted that diplomacy in dealing with Beijing is not a sign of weakness, stressing that the Philippines will continue to uphold its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro remarked after China branded the Philippines a “disruptor and troublemaker” in the West Philippine Sea, accusing Manila of acting “recklessly at the behest of external powers.”
“We cannot stop China from making its own narrative. But they also cannot stop us from fighting for our rights based on laws, UNCLOS, the arbitral ruling, and our being an independent country,” Castro said.
The Palace rejected claims that Manila is allowing itself to be bullied under the guise of diplomacy. Castro stressed: “Ang katapangan ay hindi nadadaan sa buntalan. Ang pagiging diplomatic ay hindi nagpapakita ng kahinaan.”
(Courage is not in brawling. Diplomacy is not weakness.)
The statement came as the Philippines held joint maritime drills with Australia.
In a Senate hearing, Sen. Erwin Tulfo raised that Manila should reassess its adherence to the One China Policy in light of Beijing’s continued harassment of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, warning that “diplomacy without deterrence is weakness.”
Castro, however, reiterated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the government to pursue diplomacy and a rules-based approach in dealing with the dispute.
“The President has said we are not waging war, but we will not run away from any fight,” she added.