By Anadolu staff
Philippines defense chief said that his country is making its military "strong enough" to deter armed attacks from China.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) was among the priority thrusts of the government, state-run Philippines News Agency reported.
“That is what I am focus(ing) on doing. Everybody is too focused on armed attack. Let us make ourselves strong enough so that doesn't happen,” he told reporters when asked about any attack from Beijing.
According to media reports, the defense chief also called China the "biggest disruptor" of peace in Southeast Asia.
His comments came after Philippines claimed that Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ships rammed a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessel on Sunday.
Last week, Manila also warned it may file a case against China with the UN over an alleged incident in which two of its Coast Guard ships were damaged.
On Aug. 19, the Philippines reported that two of its Coast Guard ships were damaged in separate collisions with Chinese vessels that were conducting "unlawful and aggressive maneuvers" near a disputed South China Sea reef.
Earlier, Manila also lodged a diplomatic protest with Beijing over what it called "dangerous maneuvers" over the disputed South China Sea.
Manila said Chinese military planes dropped flares in the path of Philippine Air Force aircraft flying over the Scarborough Shoal.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian later urged Manila to stop "infringement activities and provocations" at Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) "at once."
China claims most of the South China Sea, including the Sabina Shoal, located 140 kilometers (86 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid