FLASHPOINT Resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, a rusting World War II warship grounded in Ayungin Shoal, continue to be a point of conflict between Manila and Beijing. REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque claimed on Tuesday that President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr.鈥檚 administration lacks strategy in conducting resupply missions to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
Roque, in a televised interview, said judging from history, China 鈥渨ill not allow further delivery鈥� of construction materials to BRP Sierra Madre.
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鈥淏ut you know, there鈥檚 such a thing as diskarte (strategy). I do not believe that we did not deliver construction or repair materials, but it can be done in a manner that would not provoke the Chinese in a manner that they are being provoked now,鈥� said Roque over ANC鈥檚 Headstart.
This prompted him to emphasize that what鈥檚 lacking with the Marcos administration is a clear strategy.
Provoke China?
鈥淒iskarte (strategy). That鈥檚 what is probably lacking now, which leads me to my next point 鈥� are we really wanting to provoke China to respond in a way that we know she will because we want the United States to come to our rescue under the Mutual Defense Treaty?,鈥� he emphasized.
In the same interview, Roque admitted that he鈥檚 a bit worried because it seems like Marcos does not have a 鈥渃lear policy鈥� on China.
His remarks came after he was asked what his comment was on Marcos鈥� recent directive to form a body beefing up the country鈥檚 maritime security following the recent escalation of aggressive action by China against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
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Why is it only now?
鈥淲hy is it only now that he is forming this office if he had a very clear idea of how we should proceed with Philippine-China bilateral relations?鈥� Roque asked.
For his part, Roque believes it would just be better to 鈥渓isten鈥� to the country鈥檚 ambassador in China because he supposedly 鈥渒nows how the Chinese thinks, he knows who to talk to, and he knows better than anyone else how to resolve our dispute with China.鈥�
Earlier, the former presidential spokesman warned that the Philippines may lose Ayungin Shoal should it continue with its 鈥渉ardline鈥� stance.