(Eagle News)–The Philippines has “fired off” a diplomatic protest against China over the Chinese fishing vessels recently seen swarming around Pag-asa Island in the South China Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teddy Locsin Jr. made the revelation in a Tweet, after he was asked if he would follow National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon’s recommendation for the same.
“I did,” Locsin said.
Prior to this, Locsin shared a news story on Hermogenes’ recommendation with the Tweet “Diplomatic protest fired off.”
According to Locsin, he listens only to military intelligence as he “distrust(s)” civilian sources of information.
” When it comes to national security, I am the thinking trigger; the finger is the Commander-in-Chief and the Armed Forces which are the protector of people & state,” Locsin said.
Earlier, Esperon said that in February, 61 Chinese vessels were spotted in the Philippines’ biggest outpost in the South China Sea.
On July 24, he said the vessels reached 113.