China is war-mongering again over the Philippines’ oil-rich Recto Bank. President Duterte said Monday a Chinese source warned him of military deployment if the Philippines secures the shallow waters within its exclusive economic zone. Fears are that Beijing would take advantage of world distraction by the Ukraine crisis to aggress the West Philippine Sea. “Pinaalala sa akin, hindi ko na sabihin kung sino from China, ‘di ba may usapan tayo na joint development of Recto Bank. May bagong istorya na may papalit na,” Duterte revealed in a late night monologue.China is war-mongering again over the Philippines’ oil-rich Recto Bank. President Duterte said Monday a Chinese source warned him of military deployment if the Philippines secures the shallow waters within its exclusive economic zone. Fears are that Beijing would take advantage of world distraction by the Ukraine crisis to aggress the West Philippine Sea. “Pinaalala sa akin, hindi ko na sabihin kung sino from China, ‘di ba may usapan tayo na joint development of Recto Bank. May bagong istorya na may papalit na,” Duterte revealed in a late night monologue. Duterte said he denied his contact’s claim that Manila was sending soldiers to the area 84 miles off Palawan. “Sabi ko sa kanya, wala naman kami balak magdala ng sundalo. [The person retorted] kung magpadala kayo ng sundalo, magpadala rin kami ng sundalo. ‘Yan ang iniiwasan ko noon pa. Tapos magkakagiyera tayo rito... ‘yung Ukraine. ‘Yung Taiwan gusto agawin ulit ng China. Tapos dito.”

Bondoc, J. (2022, March 11). China threatening Phl anew over oil-rich Recto Bank. The Philippine Star, p. 9.