Report on Fiery Cross Reef still needs verification -- Lacierda

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 9): Report on Fiery Cross Reef still needs verification -- Lacierda

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda on Monday said that the report that China is building up military installation on Fiery Cross Reef still needs verification.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Lacierda said that the Philippines will continue to resort to the diplomatic track as this has been gaining approval from the international community.

"Certainly, we do not want to escalate any tensions in the South China Sea. That is not what we are there for and, therefore, the best thing that we can do is to resort to the diplomatic mechanism," he said.

Lacierda noted that people seem to underestimate the fact or the power of the diplomatic track but there has been a growing approval from the international community.

"We believe that with the international community support, we can persuade China to act as a responsible member of the international community," he said.

"I think it also behooves China to… And also China realizes the importance of being a member of the international community in good standing," he added.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=651805