Secretary Ramon Carandang of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) indicated that Malacañang has no final presidential decision yet whether the country will request the United States (US) to deploy spy planes over the West Philippine Sea.
Carandang explained that the possible deployment of US planes is not a provocative act against China but the responsibility of the government in doing its function of monitoring its territorial waters.
President Aquino, in a recent interview with Reuters, confirmed that the government may ask the US to help the Philippines monitor the West Philippine Sea as the government has limited monitoring capabilities.
China’s media however accused the Philippines of orchestrating a plot to deliberately stir up tensions over the disputed South China Sea, and warned that Beijing’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam, and Malaysia all have competing claims in the South China Sea.
The US has stressed its neutrality in the maritime dispute despite offering to help boost the Philippines’ military forces.
