The Philippine government said on Monday that the Philippines will continue to assert its sovereign rights over the disputed territories in the South China Sea despite the latest incident where a Filipino pilot was threatened by the Chinese Navy while flying over the area. “They will not stop us. We will continue with our flights. We will assert our sovereignty. And if need be, Filipino pilots will die for our sovereignty,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace.

Balinbin, A. L. (2018, August 14). Duterte spokesman talks tough vs China. BusinessWorld, p. S1/10.