Prof. Renato De Castro advised the Philippine government on Sunday, June 23, to refrain from acting 'emotionally' against China on the issue of the West Philippine Sea.
De Castro, a professor of the De La Salle University - Department of International Studies, made the remark after China hampered another resupply mission of China to BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.
During the incident, Chinese Coast Guard personnel waved bladed weapons, and rammed the vessels bringing supplies to the Philippine Navy commissioned ship grounded in the submerged reef.
A Filipino had his finger cut off after he got between the Philippine and Chinese boats.
"Mahabaan itong laro. This will not be the first and the last kaya dapat talaga pagtibayin natin ang ating kalooban at huwag tayong magpasindak," De Castro told DZRH.
"Huwag tayong mag-react emotionally simply on the basis of national indignation kasi talagang mahaba ito na laro. Of course, yung katapat natin ay hindi lang malakas, mapaglinlang rin siya," he stressed.
De Castro stressed that the Philippines need to act wisely when responding to the craftiness of China.
The professor mentioned the 1974 Battle of the Paracel Islands between China, and South Vietnam, which started after the naval forces of the latter fired warning shots at Chinese fishing vessels and shelled Chinese flags in the area.
China won the said conflict, and now occupies the island group.
De Castro warns that China wants to provoke Philippines to take the first step to escalate the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea to an armed conflict between the two countries.
"They know to play the game na talagang i-provoke kayo, sakupin kayo, at gamitan tayo ng overwhelming force kaya we have to play this game wisely, hopefully, wiser than our big neighbor," De Castro said.
De Castro mentioned that the dispute will test President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
