CHINA yesterday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore “disregarded history and facts,” especially on his claim of Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.
In Singapore over the weekend, Marcos denounced what he described are illegal, coercive and aggressive activities in the South China Sea. He also called on Washington and Beijing to work out their differences to ensure peace and stability in the region.
He vowed to defend and protect the country’s territorial rights amid the ongoing territorial dispute with Beijing.
“We will never allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole,” Marcos said, referring to Manila’s claim over the West Philippine Sea.
He also cited as the basis of Manila’s claim the 1983 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), of which both Manila and Beijing are signatories, and the 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration which junked China’s massive claim in the South China Sea under its so-called nine-dash line.
Under the UNCLOS, coastal states such as the Philippines are entitled to a 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a vital conduit for more than $5 trillion of goods annually. Its claim overlaps with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.
China rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling and has maintained its aggressive stance in the South China Sea, deploying coast guard and maritime militia vessels to enforce its claim.
China’s foreign ministry, in a statement yesterday, said, “Those remarks disregard history and facts and are designed to amplify the Philippines’ wrongful position on the issues concerning the South China Sea and deliberately distort and hype up the maritime situation in the area.”
Also yesterday, Beijing reiterated its stance that it has “indisputable sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over relevant waters, the territory of the Philippines does not include China’s Nanhai Zhudao, and the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea is illegal, null and void.”
Nanhai Zhudai is China’s name for the South China Sea.
“China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea are based on solid historical and legal grounds. China’s normal patrol, law enforcement and productive activities in waters under its own jurisdiction are consistent with international law including UNCLOS,” it added.
It also blamed the Philippines for the spike in tension between the countries over the maritime territorial dispute as it questioned the direction of Manila’s foreign policy.
“Who exactly does the Philippine foreign policy serve now? Whose bidding is the Philippines doing with all these maritime actions? The answer is pretty clear to anyone with sound judgement. Trying desperately to justify the unjustifiable will not help the Philippines build trust with the international community,” it added.
Beijing also accused the United States of playing a “dishonorable role” in supporting and cooperating with the Philippines, using issues in the South China Sea to provoke relations between China and the region.
“It is very clear to the discerning eye who the Philippines is serving in its foreign policy and for whom it is working in its maritime operations,” the foreign ministry said.
China is willing to continue to work with ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, to manage differences at sea and deepen sea-related cooperation, it said.
COMMUNICATION LINES
Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said keeping the country’s communication lines with China is still the best way forward in resolving the issues at the West Philippine Sea (WPS), after reports said the China Coast Guard seized Philippine supplies to troops at Ayungin Shoal.
In a chance interview with the Senate media, Escudero said while it is “important” that the Philippines not give up even a square inch of its claims in the WPS, dialogues with Beijing should still continue amid China’s escalating aggression.
“Any kind of dialogue, be it a high level or not, be it done by the foreign affairs or not, through backchanneling talks, or through the ambassadors or special envoys who will be directly appointed by the presidents of the two nations, what’s important is we keep communication lines open so we will not second guess what measures are on hand as what we are avoiding are missteps),” Escudero said in Filipino.
He said the Philippines has no other option but to communicate with China to resolve the issues at WPS.
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said China’s latest act of aggression is a continued wanton disregard for valuable food resources.
“If we are to have a chance at settling our disputes, China must show a measure of good faith by reigning in her coast guard. Our troops have never showed rudeness or harassed China vessels which have encroached in our territorial waters,” Hontiveros said in mixed Filipino and English.
She expressed hope the defense department “will reinforce our soldiers stationed on Ayungin Shoal.”
“We will not allow China to relentlessly demean our troops, our people,” she added.
Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara called on China to “exercise restraint and not impede regular and non-hostile activities involving Philippine personnel, including resupply and medical missions necessary for their (Philippine troops’) health and well-being.”
Angara said the Philippines has never engaged in any action to provoke such a response from China since the government believes that disputes can be resolved through diplomatic and lawful means.
Sen. Nancy Binay said it is imperative that all nations “uphold the principles of empathy, compassion, and respect for human life” which is enshrined in the Geneva Convention.
She said the Philippines is always prepared to bring the matter to international forum, including the United Nations, to attain justice and to ensure the protection of the Filipinos. — With Raymond Africa
