‘Phl not scared of China using military force’

The Philippines is not intimidated by China's use of military force and sees no need to utilize its own military assets to carry out law enforcement operations in the country's territorial waters, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said yesterday.

- With Ghio Ong, Evelyn Macairan

He was reacting to China's recent deployment of a People's Liberation Army Navy warship and a fighter jet to harass Philippine Coast Guard vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea.

An incident on Monday saw two Chinese vessels colliding with each other while trying to corner PCG vessel BRP Suluan in the vicinity of Panatag Shoal.

“I think they will intensify their actions, perhaps using force to intimidate us but just the same we can't be intimidated because we are on the right side,” Año said.

“We won't start trouble even if they continue doing what we call 'new normal.' They make up for their lack of legal and historical basis by engaging in illegal, aggressive actions,” he added.