Nothing new with AFP plan if China invades Taiwan

There is nothing new about Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner's directive for soldiers to prepare for a possible invasion of Taiwan by China, Malacañang said, even as it stressed that the government is ready for the possible evacuation of Filipinos in the island.

- — With Mayen Jaymalin

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Filipinos should not be alarmed by Brawner's statement because the Philippines has long been preparing for a possible invasion.

"It is not new because we have been discussing that for a long time because of the great possibility of mainland China crossing the channel between it and Taiwan to recover Taiwan. This is just part of the preparedness that we as a country should be put into," Bersamin said in a chance interview.