Duterte warns of ”trouble” if he loses a soldier in Pagasa Island

April 19, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte warned there will be ''trouble'' he loses a soldier in the Pagasa Islands.

During his campaign rally speech in Batangas City Wednesday night, Duterte said he is not threatening China but the two countries should "meet halfway".

“I said, don’t surround the Pagasa island because I have troops there. Don’t make a mistake… I'm just warning. I was not threatening China. But it could precipitate trouble there. If I lose a soldier, just one, there will be trouble,” Duterte said.

“I will tell China now that they should also meet (us) halfway. For example, in this issue of our fishermen and the swarming of (Chinese vessels in) Pag-asa," he said.

Though giving a tough statement, Duterte reiterated that the Philippines cannot go to war against China.

Duterte said the country doesn't have any equipment that can counter China's high-grade weapons.

“But now, if you ask me to fight China, OK. Who will come? Who? Name five countries who will help us. America?” he said.

"Would America risk a third world war just to defend, and for us to get the Spratlys?" Duterte said.

He reiterated that starting a nuclear war will be catastrophic to the whole country.

"Is America willing to conduct a nuclear war for us? Because if there is a nuclear war, all of us in this world will be gone. Russia will drop all (their nuclear weapons), China too, Britain will also drop their atomic nuclear," Duterte said.

Duterte then blamed the previous administration for the country's loss of control in the Scarborough Shoal.

"The Scarborough, we lost it during the time of Aquino, not mine," he said.

Malacanang earlier said they made a diplomatic protest to China over reported presence of Chinese ships and the country can be "more agressive" if the latter will not respond affirmitively.

"Perhaps if they will not respond to that affirmatively, then we have to do something more aggressive, which may provoke armed hostilities," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

He said the best thing to do is to negotiate as armed actions may provoked the Chinese government to retaliate.

"I think the best is still negotiation," he said.

"We can still talk this over. We can tell them, stop doing that otherwise, we will be forced at the risk of an armed conflict even if minimal," he added.

Panelo earlier said Duterte may raise the issue on the disputed waters during his visit in Beijing, China for the second Belt and Road forum set April 25-27. Ella Dionisio/DMS