PHL Will Still Fly Routes Based on International Law – Pres. Aquino

President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Monday the Philippines will still fly the air routes based on international law amid reports that the Chinese Navy challenged a United States surveillance aircraft flying over the reclaimed areas by China in the disputed West Philippine Sea last week.

”We will still fly the routes that we fly based on international law and the various conventions, agreements that have been entered into through various decades,” the President said in a media interview after his speech during the Brigada Eskwela and Oplan Balik Eskwela 2015 in Marikina City.

President Aquino said the Philippines should not be concerned that China will be targeting the Philippine aircraft since the territory has not been declared Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) by Beijing.

”So baka naman pinapangunahan natin ‘yung problema na wala pa,” the President said.

President Aquino is hoping that China will not stain its reputation through confrontation with a small country like the Philippines.

”Kapag masyadong kinakaya ‘yung napakaliit na bansa compared to them, paano makakatulong sa imahe nila ‘yon na kailangan nilang parang may goodwill na mangyari sa buong bansa na kanilang kasama sa pangangalakal at susi para sa pagasenso,” President Aquino said.

The President said the Philippines will still exercise its rights over its exclusive economic zone.

”At the same time, dapat naman siguro responsible, we have maritime awareness, we know what’s happening, and we have a calculated response to all of these incidents that are happening,” President Aquino said.

”Bottom line is, it has to be clear, we will defend our rights to the best of our abilities,” he added.

Before the reported incident involving the Chinese Navy and the American surveillance aircraft, the Philippines’ own air force planes have reportedly been warned over the radio that they were flying over a Chinese territory in the West Philippine Sea.

The President, meanwhile, rejected suggestions to convene the National Security Council (NSC) amid tension in the West Philippine Sea.

“The security cluster, I believe, is adequate together with the legal cluster,” President Aquino said. (PNA) SCS/JFM