MANILA, Philippines – Malacanang said Tuesday there is no need to call on the United Nations (UN) to intervene in the ongoing maritime territorial dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said it is unlikely that UN Peacekeepers will be sent to the West Philippine Sea, even with the recent incident near the disputed Ayungin Shoal.
“Titingnan natin. Tinitimbang naman natin ang sitwasyon. Pero pansinin naman natin na sa larangang ‘yan nagkakaroon lang ng ganyang sitwasyon kapag ito ay isang bagay na inilahad na mismo sa United Nations General Assembly, saka lang nagte-take action ang UN. Sa ngayon naman ay hindi naman humahantong sa ganyang antas ‘yung conflict na pinag-uusapan natin,” said Coloma.
He also dismissed reports that the Chinese Foreign Minister has accused the Philippines of bringing media people to the Ayungin Shoal to create some media hype.
“I don’t think we have hype or have given excessive coverage to this matter. All we did was to provide an opportunity for some members of (the) media to see firsthand the situation.… And they have reported it as they have seen it,” said Coloma.
Coloma downplayed speculations that China is being aggressive as there is an ongoing Visiting Forces Agreement between the United States and the Philippines.
“It is up for other countries to interpret the actions that we take, and the actions that we take are dictated by our own national interest and not in response to what other countries want to see or want to happen,” he said.
Other than the Ayungin Shoal, Manila and Beijing are quarreling over the Scarborough Shoal and the Kalayaan Group of Islands.
