On WPS
The balance of power that the Marcos administration adopted has been effective so far in fending off threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), former Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.
In a press conference of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial slate in Dumaguete City, Lacson reiterated his full support for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s policy of never surrendering “a square inch” of Philippine territory to any foreign power.
“Kami, we are in full support of the policy of President Bongbong. Iyong policy niya diyan sa West Philippine Sea napaka-obvious na sinabi niya na hindi tayo magsu-surrender not even an inch, maski isang pulgada hindi natin isu-surrender (We are in full support of President Bongbong’s policy. His policy on the West Philippine Sea is very clear: we will not surrender even an inch),” Lacson said.
Lacson said the strategy of forging alliances with powerful nations to establish a “balance of power” is a strategic deterrent against China’s growing aggression.
“Ang isang ginagawa niya ngayon na nagugustuhan ko, ako personally, ‘yong nakikipag-alliance siya sa iba’t ibang countries na malalakas, kung ‘di man sing-lakas ng Tsina, ay pag nagsama-sama, nag-consolidate, magiging kasing lakas o mas malakas pa sa Tsina (What I personally like is that he is forging alliances with powerful countries. Even if they are not as strong as China individually, together, through consolidation, they can be as strong or even stronger than China),” Lacson said.
Lacson noted that maintaining a balance of power would not invite war but prevent it, as China would have to think “ten times” before initiating a possible assault on a Philippine or allied vessel.
A former Philippine National Police chief, Lacson also highlighted the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States as a potent deterrent.
“Ang isang potent sa arsenal natin ‘yong (One potent tool in our arsenal is the) Mutual Defense Treaty… An assault to a public vessel on either country is deemed as an assault on the public vessel of the other country,” he said.
The WPS is part of the vast South China Sea, which Beijing claims entirely as its own.
In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark international arbitration case against China, invalidating its ambitious claim over the South China Sea — a ruling that Beijing vehemently disregarded. (PNA)
