Rody to Carpio: No need to fight over sandbar

MANILA, Philippines - Fighting China over a sandbar and risking Filipino lives are out of the question for President Duterte, who downplayed reports the Chinese have seized Sandy Cay near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

“China assured me that they will not build anything there. They called me up, the ambassador, we will assure you that we are not building anywhere there,” the President told reporters in Malacañang Park Monday night, referring to Ambassador Zhao Jianhua. Sandy Cay is 2.5 nautical miles from the Philippine-occupied Pag-asa Island.

“Why should I defend a sandbar and kill the Filipinos because of a sandbar?” he added.

Asked what the Chinese were doing in the sandbar, Duterte replied: “Nagpa-patrol kasi magkaibigan man kami (They are patrolling because we are friends).”

Earlier, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio claimed that China has virtually occupied Sandy Cay as he urged Duterte to “vigorously protest” what he called an “invasion” of Philippine territory.

Two frigates, a Chinese coast guard vessel and two military fishing boats were reportedly seen in Sandy Cay, formed by China’s dredging activities in Zamora (Subi) Reef.

Carpio said the dredging made Sandy Cay permanently above water at high tide and “a land or territory capable of sovereign ownership with its own territorial sea and territorial airspace.”

Duterte, who has been accused of being too cozy with China, said he could always pick a fight with Beijing but it would entail a “great sacrifice.”

He also denied that he is selling out the Philippines to China.

“I will never do it. And if I have to, I will go to a quarrel and maybe war… We will not win. And if we have trouble there and it erupts into violence, it would be a great sacrifice. And I’m sure we cannot afford it. I am a realist,” he said.

“Do not push me into the realm of impossibility because if you provoke me and conflict erupts, you will be safe in your office but the nearest missile of China can hit the City of Manila in seven minutes,” he added. “Why would I declare a war over a sandbar?”

China claims about 90 percent of the resource-rich South China Sea but this is being contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

An arbitral court based in The Hague invalidated Beijing’s expansive maritime claim last year but the Chinese government refused to recognize the ruling.

Duterte said he is convinced that China, which has built artificial islands in disputed areas, is not invading the area. He also does not see the need to file a diplomatic protest over the presence of Chinese ships in the sandbar.

“They (China) are not invading it. What Carpio said was not true. They are just there but they are not claiming anything,” he said.

Duterte dared Carpio to go to the South China Sea to see the situation for himself.

The President also denied that Chinese ships are preventing Filipino fishermen from entering fishing grounds in the South China Sea.

“It’s free for all. It’s claimed by them, it is claimed by us. At least we are not giving that out. Before, we can’t enter. But because of modus vivendi, anyone who wishes to enter can enter. When you fish, you look for rich fishing ground,” he said.

Duterte, however, said he would lose his trust in China if it drives away Filipino fishermen in the South China Sea.  – With Jess Diaz, Delon Porcalla