MANILA: Philippine aircraft will continue to fly their usual routes over disputed reefs in the South China Sea, the country’s president said today, defying China’s challenges to its planes and those of the United States.
President Benigno Aquino III told reporters there is no declared air defence identification zone over the area and “we will still fly the routes that we fly based on international law.”
“We will still exercise our rights over our exclusive economic zone,” he said, adding that the “bottom line is, it has to be clear, we will defend our rights to the best of our abilities.”
Aquino also pointed to the disparity in the military strength of China and the Philippines, saying China should not bully a smaller country because it would hurt its image as it tries to create good will with its trading partners.
The Philippines is pursuing international arbitration and diplomatic efforts to try to resolve the territorial dispute with China.
When asked about what coordination the Philippines is having with the United States, a key military ally, to address the problem, Aquino said the two countries are helping each other but that he could not reveal details.
China said Thursday that it is entitled to keep watch over airspace and seas surrounding artificial islands it created in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, following an exchange in which its navy warned off a US surveillance plane. The United States said that its aerial patrolling was in accordance with international law and that “no one in their right mind” would try to stop it.
Philippine military officials have said China has challenged its air patrols at least six times since last month, with a recording asking the planes to leave the Chinese military area to avoid misunderstanding. They said China appears to be trying to impose an air defence identification zone there. --AFP