MANILA, Philippines – Two vice presidential candidates, Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, said the Philippines should modernize its military as Manila challenges Beijing over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). 

Robredo and Trillanes made separate statements on the dispute during the vice presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and aired live by CNN Philippines on Sunday, April 10.

During the debate, Robredo said she supports the Philippines’ arbitration case against China in The Hague. (READ: PH in The Hague: China robs us of right to fish)

Still, Robredo said, “Habang sana naghihintay tayo ng desisyon doon po sa arbitration, dapat din marami pa tayong ibang ginagawa (While we’re waiting for the ruling on the arbitration, we should be doing other things).”

One of these, she said, is to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). This will prevent the Philippines from always being “at the mercy” of bigger countries.

She added that the Philippines should employ peaceful means to settle the dispute with China. She rejects bilateral or one-on-one talks with China, however, consistent with the position of the Aquino administration.

Like Robredo, Trillanes said, “We have to unite as a nation behind the arbitration case.”

Trillanes: No to ‘hostile’ ties with China

At the same time, the senator said the Philippines needs to modernize the AFP, as well as boost its alliances with its strategic partners.

He cautioned the government, however, about keeping a “hostile” relationship with China. 

Trillanes, who once served as a backdoor negotiator with China, added during the debate, “May ibang aspeto ang ating relationship (Our relationship has other aspects).”

Trillanes was referring to trade and tourism. 

Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, for his part, agreed that arbitration will help in settling the dispute with China. 

Despite this, Marcos stressed that Manila and Beijing need to forge an agreement on this.

For Senator Francis Escudero, the first step in settling the dispute involves the name of the contested waters.

He said government officials should start calling it the West Philippine Sea, not the South China Sea, to assert the Philippines’ ownership. 

The Aquino administration began referring to the disputed area as the West Philippine Sea in 2011.

The Philippines expects an arbitral tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, to rule this year on Manila’s case against Beijing. – Rappler.com