Palace: PHL not being too soft on China over South China issue

Malacañang on Wednesday said the Philippine government is not being too soft on China over its maritime dispute in the South China Sea, as Southeast Asian foreign ministers expressed concern about continued land reclamation activities in the area.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines, as one of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), joined the call for the adoption of a binding code of conduct to manage tensions in the disputed waters.

"We are not being too soft po pero meron tayo established policy diyan. Number one is, we are of course one with ASEAN in recognizing that this is a concern of all ASEAN countries, the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea. Number two of course, our common concern is peace, security and stability in one of the world's busiest sea lanes," Roque told reporters.

Roque's comment came after ASEAN foreign ministers, under Singapore's chairmanship of the bloc this year, issued a statement on Tuesday expressing their concern "on the land reclamations and activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region."

The foreign ministers also reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation in the strategic waterway.

A newspaper report on Monday said Beijing had almost finished transforming the seven reefs claimed by Manila into military bases.

Commenting on the photos, Roque blamed the Aquino administration for allegedly not doing anything to stop Beijing's building activities.

It was the Aquino administration took China to the arbitration court and won a favorable ruling that invalidated China's historical claims in July 2016.

Duterte, however, said he will temporarily set aside the ruling to avoid confrontation with China, but vowed to raise it at the right time during his presidency. — RSJ, GMA News