PHL to Maintain ‘Moral High Ground’ Stance on West Philippine Sea Issue

(PNA) — Department of National Defense (DND) spokesman Dr. Peter Paul Galvez said the country is committed in maintaining its “moral high ground” despite ongoing Chinese reclamation and other construction activities at disputed portions of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

This means that the Philippines will not conduct activities that are detrimental to the 2002 Declaration of Conduct between ASEAN and China which prohibits parties from constructing new facilities in disputed areas.

Galvez said the Philippines will continue to be transparent in all its actions at the disputed territory.

Earlier, the DND spokesman said China will have the capability to maintain and sustain large military aircraft once it completes its airstrip at Fiery Cross (Kagitingan Reef).

“I’m not so sure (on the state of the airstrip’s completion). They (China) were saying that it’s like 75 percent, I’m not so sure on how long it is but it’s already more than halfway. They were saying that it is three kilometers long approximately. (With that length), it can (handle) large aircraft like cargo and military ones,” he noted.

And once they had that kind of facility, the DND spokesman said China will have the capability to maintain and sustain such aircraft which will be likely a cause of concern for all nations having overlapping claims in the West Philippine Sea.

“If they (China) can sustain (and) maintain ‘yung airfield na ‘yun, they can put there a jet anytime and you know it can be (use) in enforcing (and) ADIZ (air defense identification zone) anytime,” Galvez said. (PNA) LGI/PFN