Malacañang on Monday continued to blame the “militarization” of the South China Sea on former President Benigno Aquino III as it defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to be friendly with China to resolve the dispute over the area. Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the situation in the West Philippine Sea or South China Sea would not have worsened had Aquino not sent the Philippine Navy’s biggest warship to ward off Chinese poachers in Scarborough Shoal or Panatag Shoal in 2012. President Rodrigo Duterte has been criticized for his friendliness to China despite the latter’s aggressive moves in the West Philippine Sea.

Barcelo, V. (2018, June 26). Aquino blamed for China militarization in SCS. Manila Standard, p. A2