Be wary of China's 'gentle approach' – expert
A MARITIME security expert said the Philippines should be wary of China's «gentle approach» to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue, noting it is likely a cover-up for its true intentions. "[China's] ambition is to dominate the West Philippine Sea, and that comes into direct conflict with the Philippine sovereign rights. Those two things can't be reconciled, so China essentially tries to wrap its ambitions in a covering of reasonableness and gentle approach," former United States Air Force colonel and SeaLight Director Raymond Powell told The Manila Times. Powell said the latest reconnaissance photos of the disputed territory by the Philippine Coast Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines indicated otherwise. He said China's territorial claims violate international law.
