MALACAÑANG is expecting a response from China with regard to a "salvo of diplomatic protests" lodged by the Philippines against Beijing over the presence of Chinese vessels near Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea.
In a press conference held Thursday, April 11, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was optimistic that China would only need days to respond to the Philippines' diplomatic protests.
"They will have to respond to our protest. A salvo of protests... Let's see. Wala pa silang sagot (They have yet to respond). Let's wait for their response," the Palace official said.
"Siguro days lang naman kasi siyempre (Perhaps it will only take them days to respond because of course), when you deliver a note verbale or a protest, siyempre they will have to study also what will be the response," he added.
The military has monitored around 275 Chinese vessels suspected to be maritime militia sailing near Pag-asa Island from January to March this year.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said April 2 that the Philippine government had already served a "salvo of diplomatic notes" to China over the presence of Chinese vessels near the Pag-asa Island.
Malacañang earlier said the current administration specifically wants to ask the Chinese government "what are they (vessels) doing there."
Apart from Pag-asa Island, a report from Inquirer found that some Chinese vessels have also been spotted near Kota and Panata islands on March 28.
The reports surfaced ahead of Duterte's expected visit to China this month to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Panelo said Duterte would likely raise in a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping the alleged presence of Chinese vessels near the Philippine-occupied islands in the disputed sea.
Panelo said that while the Duterte government chose to be "diplomatically kind" to China, it would assert the Philippines' "determination not for any foreign country to intrude into our sovereignty."
"We're supposed to be friends [with China]. And as to the President, he says, 'Friends don't do that.' If we are friends, we should be friendly in terms of our actions," he said.
"Baka lumabas 'yun sa usapan. Baka naman sila na mismo ang sumagot doon (The issue might be brought up during the bilateral talk. Perhaps, they would give their response during the bilateral meeting)," he added.
In July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China's sweeping claim over the disputed South China Sea.
However, China refused to acknowledge the ruling and the Philippines likewise preferred to set aside its arbitral victory in exchange for mended ties with Beijing.
Panelo ensured that it would be "non-negotiable," if China violates the Philippines' sovereign rights.
"We are kind in the sense that we are courteous to them. But with respect to sovereignty issue, ibang usapan na yon (it's a different issue). We have to assert our sovereignty," the Palace official said.
"They should tell us exactly why they are there and what are they doing there in the first place," he added. (SunStar Philippines)