By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Saying that it’s not China’s business to meddle in the internal affairs of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense (DND) on Sunday (11 Feb 2024) rebuked Beijing after it warned against a plan to increase the county’s military presence in Batanes, the country’s northernmost province.
The DND issued the statement after China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin warned the Philippines that it should “tread carefully and don’t play with fire” by putting troops near Taiwan.
“The Defense Department stresses that Batanes is Philippine territory and China has no business warning the Philippines about what it does within its own territory,” the DND said.
It added that plans to put up more structures in Batanes are part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept to address gaps in the country’s defenses.
Earlier, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has called for the development of more sites in Batanes after inspecting Naval Detachment Basco, Naval Detachment Mavulis, Itbayat Airport, and the Multi-Agency Facility in Mahatao.
But Wang said that Beijing sees the buildup in Batanes as related to Taiwan, and warned “the Taiwan question is at the heart of China’s core interests and is a red line and bottom line that must not be crossed.”
Undaunted, the DND said that China “should refrain from engaging in provocative rhetoric and activities,” claiming these affect its credibility.
(el Amigo/MNM)
