00:37.8
At the same time, we're offering them, let's sit down.
00:40.9
Let's not bring it to a level that is going to make it escalated into a major conflict.
00:47.0
And I think the message is very clear.
00:48.6
So we're trying to find ways and means to be able to really come to terms for both of us,
00:57.3
for both our countries.
00:58.3
That we need to sit down.
01:00.0
It's not about the United States.
01:01.6
It's not about the competition.
01:03.5
It's about what is rightfully ours.
01:09.4
The international law that has been, the arbitration award that was given to us.
01:17.4
This is where our argument starts.
01:19.3
You recognize that.
01:21.0
They're a signatory to that one.
01:22.8
Then we have at least a direction of where we're going.
01:27.2
But unless that...
01:28.3
If that thing is recognized, then obviously the situation remains the same.
01:34.8
Let's talk about the nuancing in terms of China's messaging or gaslighting.
01:40.5
Dito sa latest visit ni Secretary Blinken, sumagot yung Chinese Foreign Ministry.
01:45.7
Sinabi nila, the United States is not a party to this issue.
01:49.7
Tapos sinabi rin na, he has no right to intervene in the maritime issues between China and the Philippines.
01:56.3
Hindi pa parang sila nagpapasok sa...
01:58.3
It's a U.S. equation instead of the Philippines doing it.
02:00.8
Well, as the Defense Secretary Gilbert Doro said, they have no business telling us what to do.
02:08.4
Do we tell them what kind of relationship they should have with North Korea or Russia?
02:12.9
Obviously, we're concerned about that because of what's happening.
02:16.0
But we're not telling them anything.
02:17.5
They shouldn't tell us either on what kind of relationship, who we want to be friends with.
02:22.0
It's as simple as that.
02:23.1
I mean, if we have a relationship with the United States,
02:28.3
if we have a defense strategy with them, it's our business.
02:31.7
It's as simple as that to many of us.
02:34.8
We believe that that's the way it is.
02:36.2
And I think Secretary Doro said it right.
02:38.6
They have no business telling us what to do.
02:40.9
But why do you think China is so brazen in terms of framing the narrative this way?
02:46.1
Well, you know, it's very hard to explain many of the actions that they can...
02:52.5
In fact, I'm sure you've heard about...
02:58.3
The Gulf of Tonkin, which they're now expanding their so-called territory.
03:04.3
That is a problem, of course, that our ASEAN friend, Vietnam, is facing also in their area.
03:10.7
So, it's something that we're trying to still decipher and why they're making all of these moves
03:19.0
that obviously is not helping them in the international community.
03:23.6
But for us, we just want to be able to...
03:27.6
To leave it at peace, do not harass us, do not try to take over any of our territory,
03:33.5
then we have no problem with you.
03:35.3
For as long as they continue to do what they're doing, then we have a problem.
03:38.6
And we will continue to push back.
03:40.4
In terms of our ASEAN neighbors, of course, patagal na iniintay na dyan.
03:44.8
I don't know how effective that would still be, yung legally binding code of conduct.
03:49.1
Although we have an existing declaration on the code of conduct, but it's not binding.
03:53.1
I mean, how are we in terms of also getting our ASEAN allies...
03:57.6
allies on board to fight for what is right in terms of international law?
04:02.3
Well, I think the President has made it clear that he is reaching out to the same claimants,
04:09.9
Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
04:15.2
So, he has reached out to all of them.
04:17.8
And I think in many of those conversations, at least especially with Vietnam,
04:22.6
we all are agreed that we have to find a way to be able to work together
04:27.6
Our maritime security and maritime environment to be protected.
04:33.5
And the fishing, to regulate fishing.
04:36.3
These are all very important issues that we have to band together.
04:40.7
Especially those that are with competing claims.
04:44.4
But you see, the beauty about it is that we have all of these neighbors
04:47.2
that are ready to just simply sit down and talk about this.
04:50.8
And to find ways and means to be able to have a resolution to it in a peaceful way.
04:56.2
Not the way that is being...
04:57.6
thrown to us by this type of aggression.
05:01.1
That this is ours and you have no choice.
05:03.5
You have to ask our permission and everything.
05:05.6
That's totally unacceptable to any one of these other countries.
05:09.0
So, we're together in this one.
05:11.2
Incidentally, yun ang ginagawa ng China kasi.
05:15.0
Pero nga, in terms of dealing with that particular tactic.
05:17.5
So, of course, you don't have to talk about the specifics.
05:21.2
Pero, what kind of developments are happening in that front?
05:25.2
All I can tell you is that...
05:27.4
Because of the multilateral approach that we're doing right now.
05:32.4
Especially with Australia, Japan, and the United States.
05:35.8
And some European countries.
05:39.5
Clearly, we have options that are now available to us.
05:43.4
And more importantly, we have many of our allies that are prepared to work with us
05:50.7
into finding ways to be able to secure our borders.
05:53.9
The territorial waters that we...
06:00.2
People have the wrong notion that if we just stay away from these two countries, we'll be okay.
06:08.5
That's totally being naive about this.
06:12.0
The reality is, anything happens to any one of our countries in the ASEAN region, all of us will be affected.
06:21.4
And this is the message that we tell all our ASEAN neighbors.
06:24.8
If anything happens to us...
06:27.4
All of us will be affected.
06:30.6
Japan realizes that.
06:32.8
Australia, which is so far away, they know that this is...
06:36.5
We're in the front line, so to speak.
06:38.8
Island chain, that's it.
06:40.3
So, nobody will be immune from this type of situation.
06:45.3
So, we have to work together.
06:47.4
We have to all work together to be able to make it clear that we're not going to budge.
06:57.4
So, I think we're arguing on the basis of kung ano yung tama.
07:01.9
We're not arguing on the basis of what we think is the historical right.
07:07.0
We're talking here of what thought is right.
07:10.4
Following the international law.
07:11.9
So, I'm validated na yun, Ambassador.
07:13.7
Exactly. That's what I'm saying.
07:50.4
Thank you, Absolute Leader of TVN demanding government sanctions against Queen Elizabeth.
07:52.4
yours truly, Minister.
