He further noted that the problem would not have escalated had the Philippines stuck to the 2002 Declaration of the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and the previous administration had not decided to enter a new agreement -- the 2005 Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking -- inviting other countries, China particularly, to explore the seas within the Philippine national territory.
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Wala pong may gusto ng gulo, pero hindi rin po nito ibig sabihin na magpapakaladkad na lamang tayo sa mas malalaking mga bansa [No one wants a scuffle but that does not mean that we’ll allow bigger countries to run roughshod over us],†said Mr. Aquino.
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Kapag po hinayaan nating brasuhin lamang tayo, baka po ang mga susunod na Pilipino ay magsiksikan na lamang sa iisang isla. Kapag hinayaan nating itulak lang tayo ngayon, baka po bukas makalawa, ang 7, 100 islands natin ay maging two digits na lamang. Hindi naman po makatarungang angkinin na lamang ng iba ang malinaw namang sa atin talaga [If we allow ourselves to be bullied maybe the next Filipino generation will cram themselves in one island. If we allow ourselves to be shoved aside, maybe tomorrow our 7,100 islands will just be two digits. It’s not just for others to just take what is ours).†--
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