MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) on Wednesday (April 28) issued a strongly-worded statement telling China it cannot dictate what the Philippines does in its waters.
The statement was in reaction to a Chinese foreign ministry demand for the Philippines to stop maritime drills and patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), which is the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In its statement, the DND said China “has no business telling the Philippines what we can and cannot do within our own waters.”
“The arbitral award has categorically stated that the Chinese claim bounded by their so-called nine dash line…
Keep on reading: DND stands up to China: You have ‘no business’ telling PH what to do in its EEZ