(POLITIKO) Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada could not hide his anger at China for its latest aggression in the West Philippine Sea that resulted in a Navy sailor getting hurt.
Estrada was reacting to reports that Navy personnel, including one who lost a finger, were injured because of a high-speed ramming incident by the China Coast Guard (CCG) against Philippine resupply vessels in Ayungin Shoal.
Estrada condemned the CCG’s latest bullying tactic when it boarded and inspected resupply vessels to the grounded BRP Sierra Madre on Monday (June 17).
“I am deeply outraged and extremely troubled by these latest hostile actions by the China Coast Guard near Ayungin Shoal. This is an unacceptable act of aggression, a direct affront to our sovereignty, and a blatant violation of our rights under international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Estrada said on Tuesday (June 18).
“I strongly demand that China cease these provocative actions immediately and respect our sovereign rights. Our government will take all necessary measures to protect our people and uphold our national interests,” he added.
Estrada said the Philippines has “sought peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve maritime disputes,” but it is China which “demonstrated a complete disregard for these principles and has engaged in provocative actions to escalate tensions in our territorial waters further.”
The senator urged the Philippine government to seek international support in condemning China’s increasingly aggressive behavior at sea.
“I urge the international community to come together in denouncing this imprudent behavior and to lend their support to our plea for justice and accountability,” Estrada said.