Lorenzana apologizes for the remark of an "empty victory" over the decision of an arbitral tribunal

Defense Minister Delfin Lorenzana apologized on Thursday for his "empty victory" remark strongly criticized over the historic victory of the Philippines against China before the Permanent Court "I must excuse myself to the two men who may have been hurt by my declaration of" empty victory. "They worked hard, gave them, in all fairness", he declared at a security briefing. Thursday in Makati

The Philippine Sea supports the Interim Supreme Court Antonio Carpio and the former Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario, two of the most prominent personalities who have pleaded for the filing of the maritime case against China. for parrot the Chinese propaganda line.

For Lorenzana, his definition of victory in the West Philippine Sea is when the Philippines finally take "ownership or control

" I am a soldier and my idea of ​​victory is direct … 39, that we find ourselves for all the Philippine Sea, it is not a victory for me, "he said 19659004] The Secretary of Defense made his remark" empty victory " at the beginning of the week when he was asked to react to the recent survey of social weather stations that 9 of the 10 Filipinos want the government to take over the Chinese-controlled artificial islands in the Spratlys. "We won, but it's not the same. is an empty victory. The Chinese will not leave our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) and will instead continue to assert their historical rights to areas within the nine-line line, "he said.

Carpio said that it was "unusual" for Lorenzana to make such a statement because it was also used by China. "

"It is not correct to say that it is an empty victory because the world's naval powers are applying this part of the decision while sailing on the high seas. And the exclusive economic zones in the sea South China, "he said.

In a message sent to Inquirer.net earlier this week, Lorenzana said he would also like the Chinese islands to be taken over

. Of course, I also want the Chinese to leave. But tell me how to do it when the Chinese are ready to defend it militarily? In fact, he is now garrisoned with troops and defensive weapons. Let's be pragmatic, "said Lorenzana

The Duterte government is criticized for failing to raise the 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated China's nine-line claims, in exchange for China's economic investments. But Lorenzana said the president could not be accused of inaction.

He said that he thought that President Rodrigo Duterte would raise the decision later: "The President invoked it before President Xi during their bilateral talks, his term."

" There are many ways to do it, the president has chosen a strategy different from the previous strategy of confrontation, in the end we get good results, you bet we are, "he added. / je

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