Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 3) — Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said the Philippines has become "too friendly" and "too accommodating" to China that it might as well allow Beijing to occupy our territory.

"The fact that there are ... Chinese vessels ng mga militia, not even fishermen, anong ini-indicate noon? Tapos sasabihin natin hindi naman tayo pwedeng makipagiyera sa China, isang missile lang tapos na tayo. So kung ganun rin lang, pasakop na tayo, 'di ba?" Lacson told CNN Philippines' The Source on Wednesday.

[Translation: The fact that there are … Chinese militia vessels, not even fishermen, what does this indicate? Then we will say that we can't go to war with China and that it would only take one missile to finish us. So if that's the case, then let's just allow them to occupy our territory, right?]

Lacson said this after the military confirmed reports that Chinese vessels were spotted near Pag-asa Island, something which the senator calls alarming. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the vessels are there to "establish their presence in the area."

Lacson said Manila is better off refraining from repeatedly stating that it is too weak to combat Beijing.

"Alam mo nang mahina ka, 'wag mo nang ipagsigawan na mahina ka kasi lalo kang ibu-bully," Lacson said.

[Translation: You already know that you are weak, don't tell everyone that you're weak because you would only be bullied further.]

However, he conceded that the only thing that the government can do for now is to file diplomatic protests against Beijing.

He added that it is possible for the Senate to adopt a resolution expressing the institution's opinion on the matter. This is called a Sense of the Senate resolution.

A Sense of the Senate resolution does not have the force of law and is only meant to express opinion on a current issue.

"From time to time, we call out. Kung nakikita namin parang may mga lapses na diba, may mga omissions, 'yun lang ang kaya naming gawin. But anong gagawin namin?" Lacson said.

[Translation: From time to time, we call out. If we see that there are some lapses, there are omissions, that's the only thing that we can do. What else can we do?]

Several resolutions that called for a probe on China's actions in the West Philippine Sea were filed with the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense panels, but were not acted on.

In a radio interview Wednesday, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo said there is no objection to the country's friendship with China, but this should not come at the expense of the rights of Filipinos.

"Sa atin, pati sa Tsina, wala naman tayong problemang makipagkaibigan. Pero sana pangalagaan natin kung ano iyong sa atin, kung ano iyong nasa atin na. Huwag naman sana nating hahayaan na sinasakop tayo, na hindi tayo nagrereklamo. Kasi kapag hindi tayo nagrereklamo, ganito iyong nangyayari-na hindi na nirerespeto iyong pag-aari natin saka iyong soberanya ng bawat Pilipino," Robredo said.

[Translation: There's nothing wrong with being friends with China. But I hope that we take care of what's ours and what's already in our control. Let's not allow others to invade us without a single complaint. Because if we don't complain then they don't respect what's ours and the sovereignty of all Filipinos.]

Earlier reports said there were more than 600 vessels near Pag-asa Island, but Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command Chief of Public Affairs Captain Jason Ramon said they only spotted a total of 275 vessels in the first quarter the year.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo believes that Chinese militia are on board the vessels, citing military reports. However, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said these ships may only have been boarded by Chinese fishermen.

Malacañang and the Foreign Affairs department said Manila has filed diplomatic protests against Beijing over the swarming of its vessels in Philippine waters.

President Rodrigo Duterte and other government officials have repeatedly said that the Philippines is no match to China's military power.

READ: Duterte: Sending troops on 'suicide' mission in S. China Sea will lead to my ouster