Opposition hits Malacañang's 'nonchalance' on China's militarization

MANILA, Philippines — The Liberal Party on Tuesday called out the Philippine government for its "nonchalant" attitude in downplaying China's militarization of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea.

The statement comes a day after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said that a newspaper report showing China's nearly completed militarization in the contested waters is "not news."

The opposition party stressed that it is the duty of the government to protect the country's territory on behalf of its people.

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"It disturbs every Filipino to hear the Malacañang spokesman relying on China's mere words that it would not reclaim new islands, thus, we can sleep soundly at night," the LP said in a statement.

"It's like telling Filipinos not to worry because while China constructed a building, it would only stay on the ground floor," the statement added.

The LP pointed out that through the initiative of the Aquino administration, the Philippines secured an arbitral ruling favorable to the country.

The landmark ruling issued by the United Nations-backed tribunal on the disputed South China Sea should not remain a "mere paper victory," the LP said.

"We, the people, demand that the government, at the very least, not stand idly by and instead protest these blatant violations of the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and beef up the country's defenses in guarding what's left of our territory," the statement read.

Roque earlier said that the government continues to rely on China's promise that it will not reclaim new artificial islands in the South China Sea despite a report released late last year that many military facilities were installed during the Duterte administration.

"What do you want us to do? We cannot declare war... It’s also because it’s impossible for us to declare war at this point," Roque said.

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