On May 4, 2012, Major General Luo Yuan, the Deputy Secretary of the Chinese Society of Military Science, appeared on the program, “Let’s Talk about News,” which is hosted by ChinaNews.com. On the program, Luo proclaimed, “The Philippines have fired the first shot on the strategic level in terms of the Huangyan Island incident. China has been very polite and reasonable on the issue so far before resorting to force. However, military means are necessary and indispensable as a last resort.”
Luo added, “If the Philippines view China’s restraint and patience as a sign of weakness, a war will eventually break out.”
Source: Xinhua, May 4, 2012
http://news.xinhuanet.com/world/2012-05/04/c_123079551.htm