Phl not picking fight with China, US Coast Guard

The Philippines would never pick a fight with either China or the United States in defending its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

- By GHIO ONG — With Janvic Mateo

"Framing our defense of the West Philippine Sea solely as a 'larger power struggle' between China and the United States is a misplaced and dangerous argument that distracts from the core issue," wrote PCG's spokesman on West Philippine Sea issues Commodore Jay Tarriela in a lengthy post on his X account yesterday.

He added, "Our actions are not driven by blind alignment with any foreign power; we are standing up for what is rightfully ours, as Filipinos have every right and duty to do."

He reiterated previous statements from the National Security Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs that said "we are not a pawn of the US; our mutual defense treaty is a tool for deterrence and support, not subjugation, and it is being invoked precisely because China refuses to respect our rights."