Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin said the country would not make concessions on the East Sea issue, saying that Manila would increase its fleet, including fishing boats, at sea despite potentially increasing clashes with Chinese ships.
"That's the way we're doing, not giving in. We won't let any violations go unanswered and then will try and see if we can work in other areas like China as a platform. The economy is emerging in the world ", the Philippine National News Agency on October 27 quoted Mr. Locsin speaking at the Asia Society's online discussion.
According to Mr. Locsin, the Philippines will separate the sovereignty issue from the issue of economic development with China.
Foreign Minister Locsin said the Philippines always protests against each violation of China. "It is of importance in international law. Once you ignore the violation, it sets a bad precedent for giving the world an excuse, making you give in to a richer, stronger power. Don't give them an excuse." , he stressed, said Manila resolutely defend its sovereignty in the East Sea in accordance with international law and as confirmed in the international decision in 2016.
Also at the discussion, Mr. Locsin said Manila would increase its fleet in the East Sea. "We will swarm the regions because it is a Chinese strategy - bringing fishing vessels to all regions," Bloomberg News quoted the Philippine foreign minister as saying.
He admits that the likelihood of "accidents" at sea will increase when deploying ships in disputed areas. However, he reiterated the defense treaty with the United States that would allow Washington to intervene if Manila's military ships were attacked.
The President of the Philippines has also recently leaned toward the United States and been tough on China. In his speech to the United Nations last month, he defended the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal's ruling established under Annex VII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) case in the "road cow's tongue ”in the East Sea filed by the Philippines.