Gazmin hopes China stays away from Phl territories

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin is hoping that China would not intrude into areas that are within Philippine territory.

Asked to comment on reports quoting a Chinese general as saying that China should take more areas from the Philippines, Gazmin said: “Huwag lang pakikialaman yung ating lugar (They should not touch our territory).”

A recent article by the New York Times Magazine quoted Maj. Gen. Zhang Zhaozhong of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army as saying that Beijing should assert its territorial claims by surrounding a contested area with ships and wrap it like a cabbage.

“We should do more such things in the future. For those small islands, only a few troopers are able to station on each of them, but there is no food or even drinking water there,” Zhang was quoted in the article as saying, referring to a strategy to take territories from the Philippines.

“If we carry out the cabbage strategy, you will not be able to send food and drinking water onto the islands. Without the supply for one or two weeks, the troopers stationed there will leave the islands on their own. Once they have left, they will never be able to come back.”

The article said the cabbage strategy is now being employed in the Ayungin Shoal, an area off Palawan that China calls Ren’ai Shoal. China has also maintained its presence in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales since it barred Navy personnel from arresting Chinese poachers last year.

Manila has filed a diplomatic protest against the incursions but Beijing insists that the dispute should be resolved through bilateral negotiations.

Meanwhile, the incoming leader of military troops securing Philippine territory in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) vowed to support efforts to prevent conflict in the area.

Lt. Gen. Roy Deveraturda, who will assume as chief of the Armed Forces Western Command (WESCOM) this week, said he would back confidence-building measures while protecting the country’s territory.

“The grand strategy is very very clear from the president, that it should be resolved by peaceful means,” Deveraturda said in an interview Monday.

“I believe we’ll just perform our routine duties there and (come up with) confidence building (measures),” he added.

These measures, Deveraturda said, include soldier-to-soldier contacts through exchange of students.

However, he declined to comment on the recent activities of China but maintained that he would just follow the orders given to him by his superiors.

Deveraturda, an Air Force general, will assume as WESCOM chief on Friday.