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Former Justice Antonio T. Carpio gestures as he speaks during a forum at the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel in Manila on March 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday urged Filipinos not to confuse patriotism with economic retaliation, explaining that the Philippines has no policy for a boycott of Chinese products despite escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Reservists National Convention in Makati City, Carpio emphasized that while the maritime row remains serious, the situation does not require wartime actions.</p><p>“There is no prohibition. We are not at war with China. We have diplomatic relations with China. Its dispute should be resolved in accordance with international law,” Carpio said.</p><p>“We are not at war; we have a dispute. But it doesn’t mean that if we have a dispute, we do not talk to them or do trade with them. It doesn’t follow. We are not at a stage where there is embargo of goods from other side. We have diplomatic relations,” he continued.</p><p>In October, acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said Filipinos who don’t like Beijing should not use all “made in China” products. This was the local chief executive’s response to those calling him “pro-China.”</p><p>Carpio stressed that Manila continues to counter Beijing’s aggression through diplomacy, adherence to international law, and correcting disinformation and fake news.</p><p>The former justice was one of the resource speakers during the convention, which gathered thousands of AFP reservists from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.</p><p>“It’s important not only for reservists, but for the entire Filipino people [to be aware of the history and legal basis of the West Philippine Sea] because China is undertaking disinformation. We have to counter this,” Carpio noted.</p><p>“Pag hindi mo alam ang history at historical documents, you will now doubt whether we have sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal dahil ang sabi nila [China], Panacot is different from Scaborough. Panacot is Scarborough Shoal,” he added, citing Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal as an example.</p><p>Meanwhile, Colonel Michael Odylon Romero, PAF (GSC)(RES) and chairman of the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines, Inc. (ARRAPI), emphasized how the organization now serves as a key link between regular troops and reserve units.</p><p>“ARRAPI is now a conduit and the bridge between the active [soldiers] and the reservists para naman we have a total defense force of the AFP,” Romero told reporters.</p><p>The former congressman explained that the country’s reserve force significantly expands the manpower available to the AFP.</p><p>“There is what we call the ready reserve force, 150,000. Ang active natin sa AFP is about 150,000. It is augmented by another 150,000 reservists, in which ARRAPI is at the forefront. Ito ang may mga training. We also have what we call the standby reserve, ito ang mga nag-ROTC—another 600,000 to 700,000. All in all, we have about… anywhere between 850,000 to 950,000,” Romero said.</p><p>He also highlighted the important role of reservists in addressing emerging security challenges.</p><p>“There is the total defense force policy of the AFP and DND. The reserve force, which is halos 1:4, tayo ang nagpaparami sa kanila. Tayo, ang reservists, are the ones hindi naman nasa forefront… iba-iba na kasi ang needs sa ngayon,” Romero said.</p><p>“Ang reservists—kapag makakulangan ang AFP, sila naman ang nagfifill up,” he added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/25/30-chinese-coast-guard-naval-ships-monitored-in-west-ph-sea-afp-1512">30 Chinese coast guard, naval ships monitored in West PH Sea: AFP</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/11/21/how-a-japan-philippines-pact-is-countering-china-1222">How a Japan-Philippines pact is countering China</a></div><div><iframe width="1425" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nw651pXdk3I" title="China warship issues radio challenge to PCG plane | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><iframe width="1425" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zoz2kYXGE8s" title="Chinese vessels spotted off PH waters anew during PCG&#x27;s awareness flight | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday urged Filipinos not to confuse patriotism with economic retaliation, explaining that the Philippines has no policy for a boycott of Chinese products despite escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.</p>

Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio on Monday urged Filipinos not to confuse patriotism with economic retaliation, explaining that the Philippines has no policy for a boycott of Chinese products despite escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

‘We are not at war’: Carpio says Filipinos can trade with China despite West PH Sea tensions

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‘We are not at war’: Carpio says Filipinos can trade with China despite West PH Sea tensions

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 08, 2025 04:30 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

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