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PHL opposes alleged plan of China to deploy nuclear weapons in South China Sea — Lorenzana
The Department of National Defense (DND) opposes the alleged plan of China to deploy nuclear weapons to its outposts in the disputed South China Sea.
On Monday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters: "Well we definitely object to that, mag-object tayo diyan dahil hindi dapat sila magdala ng nuclear weapons diyan sa disputed area. For what? Wala naman tayong kuwan sa kanila, wala naman tayong masamang balak sa kanila, wala naman tayong balak na atakihin 'yung mga reclaimed areas nila."
Lorenzana said territorial disputes over the South China Sea, parts of which Manila refer to as West Philippine Sea, should be discussed in a "civil" way through the Department of Foreign Affairs and its Chinese counterparts.
"Kaya nga pinag-uusapan natin, we are talking about our disputes in a civil matter and there is no need for them to militarize to that level, na magdadala sila ng nuclear armed aircraft or any other weaponry there that are nuclear-tipped," Lorenzana said.
Earlier, the United States Department of Defense, in its annual report to the US Congress, noted that Beijing had indicated that development plans may be underway to power islands and reefs with "floating nuclear power stations." The development reportedly will start before 2020.
The US added that China's nuclear weapons policy prioritizes the maintenance of a nuclear force "able to survive a first strike and to respond with sufficient strength to inflict unacceptable damage on an enemy."
"We’re concerned about the entry of any and all nuclear weapons into the Philippine territory because our Constitution provides that we are nuclear free zone," Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, noting that Southeast Asian nations had a nuclear weapons moratorium treaty that was inked in 1995.
But China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang had denounced the US report, stressing that China continues to be "committed to a peaceful development path and follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature."
It was in 2016 when the Philippines won its arbitration case against China's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. China has refused to recognize the ruling.
There have been reports that China has continued to militarize areas in the resource-rich region. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News
