MANILA, Philippines - Nothing is threatening about the People’s Liberation Army recruitment video showing China preparing for war, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
If misinterpreted, talk about war preparation could escalate tensions, DFA spokesman Charles Jose said.
“Not really,” he replied when asked if the Philippines feels threatened by the recruitment video.
“We are not doing any provocation. But in a sense, (they are saying they are) preparing for war and in relation to the South China Sea, that could be seen (as) something that could escalate tension. So again, we are calling on all parties and claimant countries to observe provisions of the DOC (2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea), exercise self restraint and not do anything to raise tension.”
The DFA had released a statement Sunday that the Philippines is keen on pursuing the arbitration case against China, Jose said.
“On the recent Chinese recruitment video, the Philippines reiterates its full commitment to the peaceful resolution of the South China Sea disputes, in conformity with the rule of law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as well as to the reduction of tensions through the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and an eventual ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC),” read the DFA statement, issued in response to the China recruitment video.
“The Philippines has won international respect and recognition for resorting to arbitration, and we reiterate our invitation to China to join in this process. We will continue resolutely on this path, not only to protect our national interests, but also to promote regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.”
On the other hand, the Department of National Defense (DND) sees no problem with the video’s message that the Chinese military would not give up territory to foreigners, as long as it is referring to Chinese territory.
“All training videos are like that, and of course, the core competency of any military is war fighting, and that also applies to us,” DND spokesman Peter Galvez told reporters yesterday in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“If it is for the defense of any state, there is no problem with training for defending your state,” he said.
“The area that we are talking about is the mainland.”
It is, however, erroneous for China to assume that areas far from its mainland are also part of its territory, he added.
Under the Constitution, the Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy, Galvez said.
“We are for peaceful resolution of the issues we face,” he said.
The four-minute, 16-second video last week was meant to be a recruitment tool for the People’s Liberation Army Navy.
It showed footage of disputed reefs in the South China Sea and the uninhabited Senkaku Islands, which are also being claimed by Japan.
Images of exploding bombs and rockets were also shown, drawing speculations that the video was meant to threaten China’s rivals in territorial disputes.
“China’s oceanic and overseas interests are expanding rapidly,” the subtitles read. “Our land is vast but we will not yield an inch of our territory to foreigners.”
China’s struggle over its sea rights is not over, according to the video.
“We will not yield even the tiniest speck of our resources,” the text continued.
“We maintain combat readiness... We are prepared for war.” – With Alexis Romero