The BRP Tarlac, the lead ship of landing platform docks in service with the Philippine Navy, is presented at Pier 13, South Harbour, Manila City on June 01, 2016. Benhur Arcayan, Malacañang Photo Bureau

MANILA — The Philippines will not go to war in the Taiwan Strait, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said on Thursday, but the country is preparing in case tensions between China and Taiwan lead to a conflict and overseas Filipinos will need to be brought home.

The Palace official made the statement shortly after military chief Romeo Brawner Jr urged Philippine troops to prepare for China’s possible invasion of Taiwan, amid tension over the Chinese military’s conduct of large-scale exercises in the East China Sea.

Bersamin said Brawner’s statement was not meant to alarm the public, but only highlighted the need for troops to prepare for the mass evacuation of more than 200,000 Filipinos in Taiwan if needed.

“Hindi dapat magtaka ang Pilipino because matagal na naming ginagawa ang mga 'yan (Filipinos should not be surprised because we have been doing that for a long time). Preparedness for evacuation. Wala namang… We are not going to war. Unless they involve us, of course,” he said, attributing potential panic to "spin" in headlines.

The Philippines, in its constitution, rejects war as an instrument of national policy and "adheres to the policy of peace, equality, justice, freedom, cooperation, and amity with all nations."

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'NOT SAYING AN INVASION WILL HAPPEN'

Bersamin assured the public however that the Philippines has long been preparing for the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which is only 367 kilometers from Batanes province.

“We’re not saying when that invasion will take place, whether it will take place at all. Ang importante sa atin, hindi tayo natutulog sa pansitan (What is important is we will not be caught unprepared)," he said. 

Bersamin said Brawner's directive was "just to announce something that we are prepared [for]."

He added that if the Philippines does need to conduct a mass evacuation, it will be a "whole of nation, whole of government" approach that would involve more than just the military.

AFP: Directive to NOLCOM just 'prudent measure for readiness' in case of Taiwan invasion

National democratic group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan said Brawner's statement, which came after US Defense Secretary Pete Hesgeth's visit to Manila, shows that US military engagement in the country is "[meant] to support the war posturing of the US."

Bayan has been opposed to foreign military presence in the Philippines since the 1980s, raising issues of sovereignty, dependence and the risk it poses to Filipinos.  

In response to Brawner’s remarks, China’s foreign ministry on Wednesday told the Philippines not to make "unfounded comments" on Taiwan, saying "those who play with fire will burn themselves."

Bersamin said Thursday that the Philippines is equipped with assets needed should a mass repatriation be necessary for Filipinos in the self-ruled island.

“We have every asset that is needed for that. Maybe (for) large evacuations, we need the confluence of air and water assets," he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) also said it was prepared to respond to “any eventuality” in Taiwan.  

“While we do not disclose operational details, rest assured we have the proper contingency plans that are in place,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Padilla said in a briefing aired on state-run PTV.

Addressing Brawner’s statement, she said, “The intent of the chief of staff is to really remind our troops na lahat ng possibilities we have to look into it.”

— With a report from Job Malayan, ABS-CBN News

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