The alleged presence of Chinese vessels near the Pag-asa Island should not necessarily cause alarm or concern to the Philippine government, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday. Current top breaking Philippine headlines regarding the nation, world, metro manila, regions and exclusive special investigative reports.
The alleged presence of Chinese vessels near the Pag-asa Island should not necessarily cause alarm or concern to the Philippine government, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday. In a press conference at the House of Representatives, Cayetano neither confirmed not denied Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano’s claim that five Chinese vessels have been deployed near the island. «I can’t confirm nor deny [Alejano’s statement] because this is part of the discussions with the command center, » he said. «We will tell you if it will cause a diplomatic or military alarm, » he added. Citing sources from the military, Alejano on Tuesday said that China has deployed two frigates, one Coast Guard vessel and two large fishing vessels, with their maritime militia, one to three nautical miles north of Pag-asa Island. «Further, the report said that two days ago, a Philippine government ship from BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) was prevented by Chinese fishing vessels from going near our sand bars located generally west of Pag-asa Island, around two to seven miles away, » he added.
