The National Security Council (NSC), on Wednesday, shrugged off calls for demilitarization of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
According to NSC Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya, the “repeated cry” of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and their allied leftist organizations to demilitarize the WPS is a “dramatic and blanket call” that is pro-China and contrary to national interest.
“Why call on the Armed Forces of the Philippines who are deployed to the nine occupied features of the Philippines to leave?” he stressed.
Malaya, also concerned that AFP leaving the country’s occupied features in the WPS will result in “dereliction of duty and betrayal of public trust,” asks “Who will take advantage of the vacuum? China.”
Malaya also urged Bayan to instead call out China’s presence in the WPS.
He said Bayan should remember that China built artificial islands and military bases in the territorial waters of the Philippines.
“The AFP is merely doing garrison duties, doing their jobs in accordance with international law and the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, why should they pull out of the West PH Sea? The Philippine Navy is performing its mandate to secure the territorial integrity of the Philippines and protect our fishermen, why should they pull out of the WPS?” challenged Malaya.
According to Malaya, Bayan’s call for the United States to leave the WPS is also a “misplaced move” since there is no American presence in the WPS.
“There are no US troops deployed to any of the islands in the WPS. When US warships pass through, they are doing freedom of navigation operations as permitted by international law. So, what is there to demilitarize?” he noted.
Malaya said that Bayan should not “circumspect because they are falling into the trap of the Chinese Communist Party.”
“If the AFP leaves the WPS and the US Navy stops its freedom of navigation operations, who does that favor? China definitely. That will embolden China more,” he further stressed.