Manila, Sept. 16 -- The Philippines will not allow even a portion of Bajo de Masinloc (BdM) to fall under foreign control, a Philippine Navy (PN) official said Tuesday, amid plans by China to establish a nature reserve in the area.

"What the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) shares with our national leadership [is] that we will not give up one square inch [of Philippine territory]," PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said during a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, echoing an earlier statement by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

"Rest assured that we have the appropriate actions ready to ensure that we could institute the command guidance of the Commander-in-Chief. The ...