Enrile warns China vs showing aggression toward PHL

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile on Monday warned China against showing aggression toward the Philippines amid the worsening dispute of claimant countries over the Spratlys Islands. "I would caution China in using or showing any sign of aggressiveness against the country," said Enrile on Monday. "If they will show they are using their very strong military capability to undermine the interest of a friendly neighbor, the world will raise their eyebrows." He said the Philippines can invoke the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty in case of a foreign attack. "Any attack against the forces of either the US or the Philippines in the treaty area will mean an attack against the party to the Mutual Defense Treaty. So we can invoke the MDT," he said. [Click here for a list of the recent incidents in the territorial disputes.] He explained that President Benigno Aquino III, as commander-in-chief, can invoke the MDT as an executive function. He noted, however, that it still depends on the United States whether it will involve itself in the issue. But aside from the MDT, Enrile said the country can also invoke the Law of the Sea Convention or the Law of the Sea treaty to the United Nations if China violates the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Philippines. "If they’re going to explore, if they are going to exploit, if they are going to gather any valuable materials in the area, harvest this in the area, then we can invoke [that]," he said. The Senate president admitted, however, that the dispute over Spratlys probably will go on for a very long time, unless all claimant countries agree to let the International Court of Justice settle the matter. "Eventually it has to be resolved somewhere. [But] only if they agree, the other parties," he said. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News