The Philippines will be monitoring the “rescue” of a Chinese warship
stuck at Half Moon Shoal off Palawan, and may even render assistance if
needed, Malacañang said Saturday.
But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte declined to comment further on the matter, saying the element of a territorial “dispute” is still there.
“We will be monitoring that... the progress of the rescue.... If assistance is required we are duty-bound to help them,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
She added the assistance to the Chinese warship will be made if required, regardless of whether there is a “dispute or no dispute.”
But for now, she noted the Chinese Embassy in Manila already said a rescue on their side is underway.
As for the diplomatic side of the incident, she said the Palace will let the Department of Foreign Affairs take the lead on the matter.
“The rest is something that will fall to the doorstep of the DFA,” she said.
Asked if the Philippines will protest the presence of the Chinese warship in an area the Philippines claimed as its territory, she said the matter is being “dealt with.”
“That is something that will have to be considered by the DFA. It is being dealt with at the moment. (But) there are things we are not at liberty to share,” she said.
But deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte declined to comment further on the matter, saying the element of a territorial “dispute” is still there.
“We will be monitoring that... the progress of the rescue.... If assistance is required we are duty-bound to help them,” she said on government-run dzRB radio.
She added the assistance to the Chinese warship will be made if required, regardless of whether there is a “dispute or no dispute.”
But for now, she noted the Chinese Embassy in Manila already said a rescue on their side is underway.
As for the diplomatic side of the incident, she said the Palace will let the Department of Foreign Affairs take the lead on the matter.
“The rest is something that will fall to the doorstep of the DFA,” she said.
Asked if the Philippines will protest the presence of the Chinese warship in an area the Philippines claimed as its territory, she said the matter is being “dealt with.”
“That is something that will have to be considered by the DFA. It is being dealt with at the moment. (But) there are things we are not at liberty to share,” she said.
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GMA News Online | July 14, 2012 | Article Link
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