DND Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (PNA file photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)
MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has said they would focus on asserting the Philippines' authority over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS)
"It will be presented soon, but as the strategy (is) concretized into a working strategy, a documented strategy, there is a paradigm shift definitely, and on the defense side we are already taking the initiative with the comprehensive defense concept and what is important is that we have a goal (and) the goal is to project our authority over the whole of the EEZ and other areas where we have jurisdiction," Teodoro said in an interview with CNN Philippines late Thursday afternoon, when asked when would the government present its new strategy in the dealing with WPS issues.
Asked if this would mean a change in Manila's "friend to all policy" initiated by the past administration, Teodoro said the country remains friends with all provided that these countries also remain friendly.
"No, we are friends to all just as long as they are friends to us, we treat everybody as a friend just as long as they don't take what is ours," he added.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said he is seeking a “paradigm shift” in addressing China’s recent aggression and harassment in the WPS.
This came after he noted that “very little progress” has been made using the “traditional methods of diplomacy” to settle the Philippines’ issues with China in the WPS.
In a phone call on Dec. 20, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pressed for continuous dialogue in tackling the current situation in the WPS as tensions escalated over Beijing’s previous actions in the disputed area. (PNA)
