AT A GLANCE
- Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri urged President Marcos to send the current Chinese ambassador home;
- Sen. Grace Poe deemed such intentional attack a violation of international law;
Senators on Sunday, December 10 strongly condemned the latest water cannon attack of Chinese ships on a Philippine government vessel in the West Philippine Sea that were providing supplies to Filipino fishermen near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal.
“This time, China not only caused us great damage to property but they also put Filipino lives at risk,” Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri said in a statement.
“This was a humanitarian mission, and still China chose to attack them. They have no heart,” Zubiri lamented.
“They have gone from unlawfully blocking us from navigating our own waters to now deliberately damaging our vessels and endangering the lives of our people,” he said.
The Senate leader urged President Marcos to formally send the current Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian home.
“He has done nothing to address the continued attacks of his government on our troops and on our people,” he also said.
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, likewise, slammed the latest attack but is optimistic that the Philippine government will prevail in the end.
“The Philippines may be facing a giant in the West Philippine Sea, but we must also be reminded that David had defeated Goliath,” Villanueva said.
“Might does not give China the right to fire water cannons at our vessels, make dangerous maneuvers or block humanitarian missions,” he added.
China, he said, has to adhere to the international laws, such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), and must stop encroaching into the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Kahit gaano pa karaming armas at kalaking barko ang iharang ng China, hindi magbabago ang katotohanan na ang pinaglalabanang teritoryo ay sa Pilipino (No matter how many weapons and big ships China blocks, the fact that the contested territory belongs to the Philippines will not change),” he said.
Sen. Grace Poe echoed her colleagues’ call as she deemed such intentional attack a violation of international law.
“With China’s bullying rearing its ugly head anew with the water cannon firing, we must be consistently resolute in defending our territory,” Poe said.
“But we must not be cowed by every harassment. We must not retreat in protecting our seas. We have the backing of like-minded allies as we continue to stand for our lawful maritime rights,” she stressed.
Poe said discussing and coordinating with countries that support the Philippines’ stance should be pursued towards collective deterrence of China’s aggression.
For his part, Sen. Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada renewed his call for the Chinese government to “respect international law, exercise restraint, and cease all actions that jeopardize the peace and security of the region.”
Estrada pointed out the Philippine government has consistently advocated for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to disputes, “and we call on all parties involved to engage in meaningful dialogue to address the root causes of these incidents.”
“We must pursue avenues that promote cooperation, understanding, and respect for each other’s rights in the pursuit of a stable and secure region,” he said.
Ang mga aksyon ng China Coast Guard (CCG) ay hindi dapat nangyayari. Ito ay malinaw na paglabag sa karapatang pantao, batas ng dagat at nagpapakita ng kawalan ng paggalang sa soberanya ng Pilipinas.
Estrada lamented that the aggressive actions of the China Coast Guard (CCG) should not be happening as it is a clear violation of human rights, the law of the sea and shows a lack of respect for the sovereignty of the Philippines.
“We stand united in condemning these latest aggressive actions taken by CCG. We will not be cowed by any actions to intimidate or undermine our sovereign rights,” he said.