Manila, Nov. 12 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday clarified that the country is not picking fights or looking for any when it stands up for its rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

"Unang una, and most importantly, hindi naman tayo nakikipag-away eh, pero naninindigan naman tayo (First of all, and most importantly, we are not looking for a fight, but we are only making a stand)," he said in a chance interview with reporters in Cebu City.

Teodoro was responding to comments that the Philippines should not confront China over its claims in the WPS because of the vast differences in their respective militaries' strength and size.

"Pero kung pinaglalaban natin ay batas at ang kinabukasan...