Philippine defence and military officials have downplayed reports about the deployment of a Chinese patrol ship to the Spratlys.

Philippine Navy officials said it should be no cause for alarm since claimant countries, including the Philippines, are allowed to send patrols to the disputed islands.

In a text message, Philippine Navy spokesman Edgar Arevalo said, the Philippine Navy is validating the report China had sent a patrol ship. 

He said "there is yet no cause for alarm as sending patrol boats by different claimant countries in the areas where they have a claim in the Spratlys is tolerable. Even the Philippine Navy is deploying patrol ships and also logistics vessel every three months during troop rotation and refurbishing in the Kalayaan Island Group."

"As such, prudent steps are to be taken, such as verification and assessment as to the purpose of the reported deployment of China, and the monitoring of the location of the Chinese vessel," Arevalo said.

Defence Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said, "I don't really think it is a big threat because we have the force of law on our side."

The incident comes a week after a Naval confrontation between China and the US in the South China Sea. It also follows the signing of the Philippine baseline law, which identifies the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal as "a regime of islands" under the Philippine republic.

Not a patrol warship? 

Meanwhile, National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales believes that the only option the Philippines can take against China is through diplomacy and negotiation. 

A day after it was reported that China dispatched a patrol ship in the South China Sea, the president's security adviser said on Monday there is nothing to be alarmed about China's move since he believes that no country in the world would start or wage a war for territory and expansion. 

Gonzales said he believes that what China did was just pure posturing after the Philippines approved the baselines law.

However, according to Gonzales, the Chinese embassy already clarified to the Philippine government that it did not deploy a patrol ship in the area but simply deployed a fishing vessel. 

The Chinese, according to Gonzales, also denied that their movement is due to the signing of the baselines bill into law. 

As a friend and neighbor of China, Gonzales reiterated that diplomacy and dialogue are the best steps to take in dealing with China. 

He also said that there is no need for the Philippines to beef up its forces in the Spratlys since he does not see an escalation of the conflict.

Assess first

Meanwhile, Presidential deputy spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said the government would first assess the report.

"For the meantime, we are closely monitoring developments there, and we would be also considering the recommendations that were made by the National Security Adviser," she said.

Asked to comment on the saber rattling by the Chinese government, Fajardo said: "The reaction of China is, I think, a normal reaction for any nation that has a territorial claim like ours. And that was a reaction because of the passage of the baselines bill. But we don't have to worry about that. Diplomacy is still the key, it is the first defense of any civilized nation. So we would just like to leave that to the UN. The baselines bill, we would like to reiterate, is consistent with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." -- reports from ANC; JAY RUIZ, ABS-CBN News