PH need not brace for war but must ready for ‘contingencies,’ says security official

The Philippines need not prepare for war with any foreign nations, but must be ready with contingency measures as flashpoints for conflicts exist in the region, a security official said Wednesday.

Interviewed on the Philippine Air Force’s regular public affairs program, National Security Council Deputy Director General Michael Eric Castillo said the country faces the threat of being caught in crossfire between warring nations.

“The Philippines need not necessarily prepare for a war because remember that it is in our constitution that we renounce war as an instrument of national policy," he said.

"While we don’t have an intention in engaging in a war with any country we might be caught in crossfires with waring countries. And what we need to prepare for is not a capability to fight a war but what we need to prepare for immediately and urgently is the capability to respond to any foreseeable contingencies," Castillo added.

The NSC official continued, "Remember that in this part of the region, there are for flashpoints for conflict —you have the Senkaku (Islands) in Japan, you have the North Korea issue, you have the Taiwan issue and you have the West Philippine issue."

"So, we have to prepare for any contingency. That's the kind of capability that our defense and security sector must prepare for," Castillo said.

The NSC official said the recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan is "one of the possible contingencies that we need to prepare for."

China said Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was a “major provocation.” Pelosi is the highest-profile elected US official to visit the island in 25 years.

According to a Reuters report, Chinese warplanes buzzed the line dividing the Taiwan Strait before her arrival and several warships sailed near the unofficial dividing line since Monday.

China's top diplomat to Manila earlier reminded the Philippine government to adhere to the One-China policy amid reports that Pelosi will pass through the country on her way to Taiwan.

"The One-China principle is an international consensus and universally recognized basic norm governing international relations. It is also the political foundation of China-Philippines relations. It is our hope that the Philippine side will strictly abide by the One-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations," said Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian.

Malacañang said that the military and the Department of Foreign Affairs "are closely monitoring the situation as they would in any other similar circumstance."—LDF, GMA News