President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday asked China to give advance notice of potential rocket debris falling within Philippine territory from China-launched rockets.

President Marcos said the Philippines has no interest in China’s rockets and has offered to retrieve any rocket debris and return them to China.

At the Kapihan sa Media forum in Bengaluru, India, President Marcos said China did not commit violations related to the launch of the Long March 12 rocket on August 4, when suspected rocket debris fell near Palawan.

“It’s not the first time that this has happened. And, actually, if you look at the incidents, they did not commit any violations. There have been no casualties,” said the President.

“We just wish that perhaps they could warn us a little earlier so that we know the path of the rocket, where the path is and kung magbibitaw sila ng stages kung saan babagsak,” the President pointed out.

President Marcos said during his visit to Beijing in 2023, he offered to China’s President Xi Jinping that Filipinos could help retrieve the debris and return them to China.

“I remember in my trip to Beijing early on, that I told President Xi, ‘You know, we have no interest in your rockets. Just tell us where they will land, we will collect it and give it to you,” the President said.

“And that continues to be my offer to China. Hindi n’yo kailangan agawin sa amin ‘yan. Saka anong gagawin namin d’yan? Sabihan nyo kami kung saan dadaan yung rocket. ‘Pag may babagsak, kukunin namin sa dagat tapos dadalhin namin sa inyo. Wala namang problema,” President Marcos said.

“The good side to all of this, wala naming casualty. Wala naming tinamaan. Hindi naman nagka-problema,” the President noted. | PND