The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) rejected Beijing’s taunt, calling Manila a “genuine troublemaker,” stressing that the Philippines remains committed to building a credible defense posture aimed at preventing conflict.
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner, Jr. said the country’s efforts are anchored in a purely defensive strategy and responsible military modernization, not provocation.
“Well, we are not the source of conflict in the West Philippine Sea. What we are doing is strengthening the Armed Forces of the Philippines so that we can have credible deterrence, because we do not want to go to war,” Brawner told reporters in an ambush interview aboard the Indian Navy’s INS Shakti (A57) on Thursday evening.
Brawner’s remarks come days after China’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang labeled the Philippines as a “genuine troublemaker” and “creator of danger” in the South China Sea.
“We need strong deterrence, and the way to do that is, number one: we must strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines through modernization. And second, we need to partner with like-minded nations, and this is what we are doing with the Indian Navy,” he emphasized.
Brawner underscored that the Philippines has the sovereign right to strengthen its military, just like any other country.
“We don’t interfere with their [China’s] armed forces, so they shouldn’t interfere with ours. Every country has the right to strengthen its armed forces, and that’s exactly what we’re doing now,” he said.
