Malacañang rejected suggestions that the Philippines’ diplomatic stance in the South China Sea shows weakness, while also pushing back against China’s claim that Manila is acting as a “disruptor” in the region.
Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said this after Senator Erwin Tulfo said at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that the Philippines was “allowing” itself to be bullied in the name of diplomacy, and that “diplomacy without deterrence is weakness.”
00:00The Foreign Relations Committee hearing yesterday, Senator Tulfo responded to DFA statement that Taiwan is not recognized as a sovereign state.
00:08Sabi po niya, we're allowing ourselves to be bullied in the name of diplomacy and that diplomacy without deterrence is weakness. Comment po on that.
00:16Ang katapangan ay hindi nadadaan sa buntalan. Ang pagiging diplomatic ay hindi nagpapakita ng kahinaan.
00:25Nagsalita na po rito ang DFA at si Secretary Lazaro na ang direktiba ng Pangulo ay diplomacy at rule-based approach.
00:35At sinabi niya naman ng Pangulo na we are not waging any war at sinabi niya na hindi tayo uurong sa anumang labanan.
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