MALACAÑANG welcomed the recent statement made by the Chinese foreign ministry saying the Chinese government will not resort to the use of force to settle the dispute in the South China Sea. China on Tuesday vowed not to use force in settling the Spratly issue and called for more dialogue to resolve the long-standing territorial disputes in the area.
“The statement from the Chinese foreign ministry is optimistic. It’s good that we heard them say that they are not going to resort to the use of force. It’s something that we certainly welcome,” Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in the press briefing in Malacanang on Wednesday.
“So at least we have in the region an assurance that no use of force will be necessary to resolve the situation,” Lacierda stressed.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China hopes other claimant countries will do
more for peace and stability in the region. Tensions between China and other claimants to the South China Sea escalated last week following a war of words. The Philippines and Vietnam in particular have expressed alarm over China’s aggressive actions.
Aside from China, the Philippines and Vietnam, other claimants to the Spratly Islands are Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia. (PCOO)