Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has rejected the notion that the Philippines should remain silent on the West Philippine Sea issue because of its military disadvantage against China, calling it a “false choice.”
In an ambush interview at Camp Lapu-Lapu, Teodoro said the Philippines was not seeking a confrontation with China but remained committed to defending its territorial rights and maritime resources, DZRH's Edniel Parrosa reported.
Teodoro’s remarks came in response to Vice President Sara Duterte’s comparison of the firearms and military capabilities of Filipinos with those of their perceived adversaries.
The defense chief acknowledged the disparity in military strength between the Philippines and China, but stressed that the country’s position on the WPS should not be dictated solely by its military capacity.
“The size is also a consideration, ‘yung disparity of size. Pero kung pinaglalaban natin ang batas at kinabukasan ng susunod na generasyon, I think there's no compromise at also. I think the Filipinos know that it is a false choice,” Teodoro said.
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