Marcos hopes Chinese aggression will be avoided after MMCA

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Monday expressed hope that Chinese aggressions in the West Philippine Sea would be avoided following the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) among the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia in the region. 

Speaking to reporters in Bacolod City, Marcos said Philippine officials continue to talk to their Chinese counterpart so that the tension in the region would no longer escalate. 

''I sincerely hope so. I really do. I really do. We're trying everything. We continue to talk at a ministerial level, at a sub-ministerial level, at a people-to-people level-- lahat ng maaari nating gawin, ginagawa natin para makausap ang Chinese leadership, ang Beijing, makausap sila na 'wag na natin masyadong pag-initan pa. Mag-usap tayo nang mabuti para walang banggaan, walang cannon, water cannon,'' Marcos said. 

Asked about the assessment on the maritime activity, Marcos said, ''Par for the course. The cruises that we are doing, something that have been planned for a long time, the interim reports that I am getting is that very useful talaga in terms of the interoperability so that each navy knows how the other navy operates.'' 

'No comment'

Vice President Sara Duterte, meanwhile, remained mum about the harassment of China to Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea.

Asked in an ambush interview for a reaction regarding both the continued aggression of China in the WPS, as well as the recently concluded MMCA, Duterte said, “No comment.”

Duterte also disregarded criticisms that she is apparently silent about the WPS issue despite holding the second highest government position.

“No comment. I think comprehensive na ‘yung statement ni Congressman Paolo Duterte about me and the West Philippine Sea,” she said, referring to her elder brother.

Davao City First District Rep. Paolo Duterte earlier said that it is not the job of the Vice President or the Secretary of the Department of Education to “demonize” China or any other country, despite the tensions in the WPS.

In an ambush interview, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed support to multi-lateral programs that promote freedom of navigation in the WPS amid the harassment against Filipino fishermen and coast guard personnel.

"I'm in favor of multilateral programs, projects that will assist us on freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea, that will assist us on the rule of law, in the adherence to the UNCLOS where all parties in the Asian region are party of, including our neighbor in the north," Zubiri said.

"Hindi po ito pinapakita na gusto natin ng giyera. Pinapakita lang po natin dito ay handa po ang ating mga like-minded countries," he added.

(This does not indicate that we want a war. We just want to show that we are ready with the help of like-minded countries.)

Speaking at a press conference, Senator Francis Tolentino said he sees the MMCA as a "regular occurence" in the WPS.

While these multilateral exercises might irritate China, Tolentino said he believes that positive developments could outweigh this.

The chairman of the Senate special committee on maritime and admiralty zones, Tolentino believes the MMCA will signal a strengthened alliance with like-minded countries and the exercise will signify a commitment to mutual defense and security cooperation among allies.

Further, Tolentino said this will signal a "strong deterrence" that the Philippines cannot be bullied.

"'Yung mga nagsasabi na baka lalong magalit ang China, para sa akin, it will promote more regional stability because the joint patrol will contribute to regional security and cooperation," he said.

"Mas kailangan natin ito as ASEAN tries to promote a greater ASEAN region as well as Asia-Pacific, Indo-China region...baka later on marealize ng China na mas mabuti sa kanilang interes na hayaan ito kasi para na rin sa kanilang interes ito," he added.

(We need this as ASEAN tries to promote a greater ASEAN region as Asia-PacificIndo-China region... China might later on realize that it is in its best interest to accept this since it is also to their benefit.)

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the MMCA was joined by the Australian Defense Force (ADF), the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).

The naval and air forces of the four countries conducted communication exercises and division tactics.

Activity participants included the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar with an AW109 helicopter, BRP Antonio Luna with an AW159 Wildcat ASW helicopter, and BRP Valentin Diaz from the Philippine Navy.— with Giselle Ombay/AOL/RSJ/RF, GMA Integrated News