Newly installed Navy chief Rear Adm. Caesar Taccad may have inadvertently defended China’s activities in the West Philippines Sea by stating that Beijing is merely guarding its own interests and that “no expansion is happening” in the region.
According to the Philippine Star, Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad made the remarks as he took over his new post at a ceremony on Monday.
“It’s much heated before. I think we are in a better position now,” Taccad said in response to questions about Beijing’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea to assert sovereignty over the disputed Spratly islands.
“We are communicating with China and more or less not as threatened as before. You know what they are trying to do and we try to maintain more or less peaceful co-existence or settlement of what issue we have.” Taccad said.
“They have been there for a long time and they are guarding what they think is their interest in the South China Sea. No expansion is happening. They are just pursuing their interest,” he added.
President Benigno Aquino III, who was present when Taccad made the remarks, was one of the most vocal critics of China’s land reclamation activities and military construction in the Spratlys, having earlier this year compared China to Nazi Germany.
China is involved in territorial disputes with the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea. It is now constructing structures in Panganiban (Mischief), Zamora (Subi), Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Kennan (Chigua), Mabini (Johnson South), Burgos (Gaven) and Calderon (Cuarteron) Reefs.
Officials believe China is building artificial islands with airstrips, radar systems and military barracks.
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