INSTEAD of avenging China's harassment of Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the government should focus more on boosting the country's capability to deter armed attacks, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. said on Monday.

Teodoro made the comment a day after the China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese maritime militia rammed and fired water cannons at the BRP Datu Sanday, a ship of the Bureau of Aquatic Resources (BFAR) that was bringing fuel, food and medicines to Filipino fishermen at Escoda (Sabina) Shoal.

"Let's deter an armed attack. That is the more important thing. That's what I am focused on. Let us make ourselves strong enough so that doesn't happen," Teodoro was interviewed by reporters at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City, where a ceremony commemorating National Heroes Day was held.

He said the country has not gotten tired of reminding China of its illegal acts, but "wala silang pakialam (they don't care)."

"We have to expect these kinds of behavior from China because this is a struggle. We have to be ready to anticipate and to get used to these kinds of acts of China, which are patently illegal, as we have repeatedly said," Teodoro said.

He said that the National Maritime Council will further discuss which steps to take following the latest incident.

The CCG on Monday said it took "control measures" against two Philippine coast guard ships that had entered waters near the Sabina Shoal.

It accused Manila of sending two ships to "illegally barge into waters near Xianbin Jiao," using the Chinese name for the Sabina Shoal.

The ships "continued to dangerously approach normally sailing Chinese coast guard ships, inciting hype," it said in a statement.

WITH AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE