MANILA, Philippines — For Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., the 2012 standoff at Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal might have ended with Manila and Beijing “talking to each other” if only the Philippines stood its ground in the disputed area back in 2012.
The country’s top diplomat implied at a pre-recorded “Talk to the People” of President Rodrigo Duterte aired Monday night that the Aquino administration made an error in judgment when the Philippine Navy was recalled from its position in Panatag, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, because he believes that China would not launch an attack during that time.
The 2012 incident saw a months-long tense impasse between Philippin…
Keep on reading: Locsin thinks China won’t attack; PH should’ve ‘kept up’ in 2012 Scarborough face-off