Esperon pushes ‘opening’ of WPSBy DEMPSEY REYEShome/News/Nation/Esperon pushes ‘opening’ of WPSBAGUIO CITY: National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Saturday proposed that the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) be “internationalized,” or opened to all Southeast Asian nations and China. Esperon said he supports the idea of allowing foreign experts to visit Philippine-occupied islands in the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Group of Islands) in the West Philippine Sea. Esperon said foreign visitors at the Philippine-occupied islands, such as the Pag-asa (Thitu) Island, would include marine biological researchers or anyone interested to study the environment. But he stressed that opening the West Philippine Sea did not mean that the Philippines was giving up its claims over islands and reefs. Meanwhile, the official welcomed the proposal of the United States to conduct freedom of navigational operations at the West Philippine Sea.

Source: Manila Times February 16, 2019 17:24 UTC