Vice President Sara Duterte questioned the Philippines’ military capabilities compared with China, saying the government must consider the disparity in their military strength when addressing the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking before members of the Filipino community in Hong Kong on Sunday, November 8, Duterte used a comparison involving firearms to illustrate the country's military disadvantage against China.
“Totoong mayroon tayong girian sa West Philippine Sea, pero dapat iniisip ng pamahalaan: gaano ba kalaki ang baril ko? Gaano ba kalaki ang baril ng kalaban? Ulo pa lang pinupukpok na 'yang maliit mo na baril. Kaya kailangan binabalanse lagi 'yan,” she said.
Duterte argued that the maritime dispute should not be addressed through confrontational actions at sea or exchanges on social media, but through diplomatic negotiations.
She proposed forming a team of Filipino diplomats and negotiators who would handle discussions with Beijing and communicate the Philippines' position on the maritime dispute.
“That is not how you address conflict resolution. This should be handled by people who are experts in negotiation for the Philippines,” she added.
The Vice President also pointed to the economic relationship between the two countries, noting that many Filipinos work and do business in China because of employment and economic opportunities unavailable in the Philippines.
Her remarks came amid continuing tensions between Manila and Beijing over the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday reminded government officials that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy under the Constitution.
The department said public officials are expected to align their positions with the President's foreign policy directions, warning that conflicting public statements could undermine diplomatic efforts and weaken the country's negotiating position. The DFA did not identify the officials it was referring to.
The Philippines and China remain embroiled in longstanding maritime disputes in the South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal ruled that China's expansive claims under its nine-dash line had no legal basis under international law.
Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.
