(Eagle News)–Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. has ordered the filing of a diplomatic protest against China over the unauthorized passage of Chinese warships through Sibutu Strait.
Locsin gave the order to the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Asia and Pacific Affairs in a Tweet.
“Fire diplomatic protest over Chinese warship; drop the diplomatic crap; say it is ours period; they’re trespassing,” Locsin said.
According to Locsin, “if we did it already, fire another.”
“We won’t run out and don’t wait for formal intel. This is the Secretary of National Defense, no less. Fire at will,” he said.
Earlier, Western Mindanao Command chief Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said Chinese warships sailed passed through Sibutu Strait at least three times in August without informing Manila.
This was after Chinese warships passed through the same straight two times in July.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana slammed China for its move, noting that the warships would also turn off their identification systems.
The Philippines has filed several diplomatic protests against China, including one over the presence of Chinese survey ships in Philippine territorial waters, and the swarming of Chinese vessels near Pagasa island.
