Bam: Is there a deal to let China put missiles on PHL-claimed territories?

Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV on Tuesday asked if there is a deal between the Philippines and China that allows the latter to install military systems on disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Aquino said he wanted this answered in the investigation that will be conducted by the Senate amid reports that China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef, Subi (Zamora) Reef and Mischief (Panganiban) Reef in the Spratly Islands.

“Mayroon bang deal na nangyari between China and the Philippines kaya mayroon pong missiles ngayon sa ating teritoryo? O nagulat din ba ang administrasyon noong nalaman na mayroon nang militarization sa mga teritoryong iyon? Sa pagkakaalam ko po walang treaty between the Philippines and China allowing for these troops and military armaments to be in those areas,” he told reporters.

He said if there was no agreement, one would have to question the relationship between the two countries.

“Parang makwe-kwestyon mo yung friendship natin sa China. Hindi po dapat iyan ginagawa ng mga magkakaibigang bansa na bigla-bigla ka na lang lalagyan ng mga missiles doon sa iyong teritoryo,” he said.

On the Palace's statement that the missiles are not directed at the Philippines, the senator asked how the government officials can be so sure about this.

“Paano po natin alam na hindi yan nakatutok dito? Pangalawa, sa isang pindot lang pwedeng nakatutok na po iyan sa atin,” he said.

He also wondered how China made the assurance that it will protect the Philippines from external threats, as earlier claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Paano natin alam iyon? Was it a verbal agreement between our President and the President of China? Ano yung papeles natin na nagsasabi n’un? Sa pagkakaalam ko kailangan po niyan ng formal treaty sa kahit ano pong usapin ng bases, usapin ng armas, usapin ng foreign military troops, kailangan po niyan ng treaty at kailangan alam po ng taumbayan iyan,” he said.

“There should be no secret deals between two countries, especially when it comes to territory, sovereignty and our safety,” he added.

Aquino said he will be filing a resolution a seeking probe into the matter.

“We’re filing, either today or tomorrow, a resolution looking into the Chinese bases in our territory. We hope that our proper committee will hear our resolutions here in the Senate at mabigyang linaw po ang taumbayan ukol po sa militarization ng teritoryo po natin,” he said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday filed a resolution urging the Senate national defense and security committee to probe China’s missile installations on the three fortified posts in the Spratly Islands. — BM, GMA News