RP will resort to diplomacy over renewed Spratlys row

MANILA, Philippines - Admitting it cannot do much, the Philippines will resort to diplomacy in defusing what appears to be a renewed row with China over a disputed part of the Spratly Islands. But National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales said Monday they may also ask help from allies such as the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) if needed. “Noong araw pag may ganyang nangyayari binobomba ng Air Force natin kaagad. E sa ngayon wala na tayong pangbomba. Kaya ngayon ito kuwan sa atin pahatid ito nararapat ang AFP bigyan natin ng tulong at maiayos ang ating gamit," he said in an interview on dzBB radio. [Before, our Air Force could have bombed structures of other countries in the disputed area. But now we don’t even have the resources to conduct the bombings. We may have to modernize our Armed Forces] When told that China’s act of sending a ship to patrol the Spratlys is tantamount to bullying, Gonzales said, “Wala tayong magagawa. Pero sa ngayon ang ating gagamitin ang ating diplomasya [We cannot do anything about it. What we can do now is resort to diplomacy]." China sent a patrol ship to the disputed Spratly Islands after protesting the signing of the Philippine baselines act that included the Kalayaan Group of Islands and the Scarborough Shoal. Gonzales said that with the baselines law, the proper forum should now be the United Nations. When asked if the Philippines will protest the presence of the Chinese patrol ship, he said a protest is not the proper thing to do at this time. He said that at this time, a protest may not be the right thing to do, and that other mechanisms should be explored in dealing with the problem. But he added that the Philippines has the right to defend itself. On the other hand, he said the Philippines can seek help from the United States and the Asean. “Hindi lang sa USA, sa Asean. Marami tayong nilagdaan na iba’t ibang document pagkakaisa pagkakaibigan para magkaroon ng ganyang usapin daanan natin diyan [Not just the US but the Asean. We have signed so many agreements that we can now avail of]," he said, but did not elaborate. - GMANews.TV