Palace says Duterte won't take at face value China's 'won't take first shot' remark

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is not taking at face value Beijing's claim that it "won't take the first shot" because it adheres to the principle of self-defense, Malacañang said Tuesday. 

Last Monday, Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua gave assurance that China would "follow the path of peaceful development" and would never seek hegemony nor establish spheres of influence. 

Speaking during the 92nd anniversary of China's People's Liberation Army in Makati, Zhao said Beijing "won't take the first shot" since it adopts a military strategy of active defense that adheres to the principles of defense, self-defense and post-strike response.

READ: Amid sea row, Chinese envoy says Beijing won't fire first shot

The Chinese envoy also claimed that China develops its military "entirely for the purpose of self-defense" which aims to defend the country, to provide the people with a peaceful environment, and to ensure that they are free from the disasters and calamities of war.

Despite China's assurance, Duterte's presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the chief executive anticipates possible scenarios that may arise from the West Philippine Sea row.

"We do not take words of other countries on their face value. The president will always think beyond those words," Panelo said in a press briefing.  

"The president is mandated to protect the security of this country, as well as the Filipino people, hence he will anticipate what may come out of any aggressive action that this country may undertake vis-à-vis the conflict in that area," he added. 

READ: China will be last to disrupt freedom of navigation in South China Sea — Chinese envoy

When reminded that Duterte believed in Chinese President Xi Jinping's statement that there would be trouble if the Philippines insists on its plan to dig oil in the West Philippine Sea, Panelo said: "We took it as an anticipation of what may happen."

"Even without those saying that, we always think of the security of the Filipino people," he added. 

Duterte has been using the statement of Xi to rebuke critics who accuse him of not doing enough to assert the Philippines' rights in the West Philippine Sea. Xi reportedly made the remark during a meeting with Duterte in Beijing three years ago. 

READ: War is not the answer: How other claimants handled maritime incidents

The Philippine leader has repeatedly said he would not go to war with China over the maritime row, saying it would result in a "massacre" of Filipino forces. He has also challenged the United States to take the lead in confronting China over its aggressive actions in disputed areas. 

Panelo said the Philippines would continue to negotiate with China to resolve the South China Sea dispute.

"We will repeat our position. We said that the conflict in that region will be the subject of continuous negotiation between the two countries. And by such mechanism, we hope to solve and/or resolve the conflict, whatever they are," the presidential spokesman said.