Palace dismisses US general's comment that PHL, Japan should tone down rhetoric vs. China

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 11): Palace dismisses US general's comment that PHL, Japan should tone down rhetoric vs. China

Malacanang on Tuesday dismissed a comment made by a United States general saying that political leaders of the Philippines and Japan should de-escalate their rhetoric against China as this could lead to tension.

The comment was made by Gen. Herbert Carlisle, commander of the US air forces in the Pacific, who said that the rhetoric was “not helpful,” referring to Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III’s comparison of China’s territorial claims on the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to Hitler’s imperialism.

He also referred to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement that there was confrontation between Germany and Britain despite strong economic ties, and cautioned Japan and China to avoid a similar fate.

China, meanwhile, continues to push its territorial claims in both the East and South China Seas.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio B. Coloma Jr. said in a text message that President Aquino’s comments should be put in proper context.

“President Aquino simply called attention to the need for international solidarity in asserting the primacy of the rule of law to deter expansionism in West Philippine Sea (South China Sea),” Coloma said.

“It’s understandable for a military commander to adopt a viewpoint that’s different from a head of state’s perspective,” he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=614831