Palace: Chinese insecurity on Balikatan baseless

From Ang Malaya (Apr 22): Palace: Chinese insecurity on Balikatan baseless

Malacañang responded to an editorial posted in English language Chinese tabloid Global Times that called the Philippines a “cute little submissive” of the United States. The palace also finds no reason for China to be insecured with Philippines.

“We don’t understand where this insecurity of the Chinese towards us is coming from. Where do we have the wherewithal to compete against China as a superpower?” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said today in a press briefing.

“I suppose anytime of the year you conduct the Balikatan exercises, there will always be some comments to make. But the fact is that Balikatan exercises have been done regularly by the Philippines and other countries,” he added. “This is, again, for our interest and also to help in handling human disaster response situations.”

“Despite Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s repeated stresses that the exercise is not intended to be against China, few believe he means it,” the Chinese tabloid said. Global Times is owned by the official newspaper of the Chinese government, People’s Daily.

http://www.angmalaya.net/nation/2015/04/22/10391-palace-chinese-insecurity-on-balikatan-baseless