The Philippine government’s principled stand in the West Philippine Sea has nothing to do with domestic politics or so-called “publicity stunts.” It is China that has always opportunistically taken advantage of our domestic politics. Our MDA patrols remain routine and legitimate. Your selective outrage over aircraft distance to your illegally reclaimed Mischief Reef is laughable—we do not recognize your unlawful presence there, period.
The Philippines will continue exercising our sovereign rights within our own exclusive economic zone under UNCLOS, without seeking permission from Beijing. China’s repeated militarization, artificial island-building, and harassment of Philippine vessels and aircraft are the real drivers of tension, not our transparent patrols. Chinese Embassy must stop its double-speak and respect international law instead of rewriting it to suit its expansionist agenda.
