(Eagle News) — The Department of Foreign Affairs said it had sent about three or four note verbales to China expressing the Philippines’ concern over the reported military equipment recently set up by China in the Spratly Islands.
One note verbale was issued after an American think tank report in December 2016 that said China has installed anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapons on its man made islands.
Earlier, the Center for Strategic and International Studies said that the anti-aircraft guns and close-in weapons systems designed to guard against missile attack have been placed on all seven of China’s newly created islands.
But Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., said they have not been remiss in their duties in defending and protecting the rights and interests of the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Yasay said they were continuously talking with China and have in fact issued a lot of note verbales quietly.
“When we take action, we do not take aggressive action,” said Yasay in a televised interview.
He said it was important to do these things “quietly.”
“We are very vigilant about any actions or any acts that will be provocative or only serve to increase the tensions there,” said
Yasay in an interview by CNN Philippines’ “The Source.”
“We will always make sure that we will always take the appropriate action in protecting these rights,” he added.
Yasay said that the Philippine government sees no need to publicize its actions.
“It’s always nice that if you have a problem with any particular country, you would like first to discuss it with them,” he said.
He said these actions have produced positive actions since the military activity in Scarborough Shoal had stopped.
