No country has the right to stop or block our lawful humanitarian and supply missions within our exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Our actions are guided by the 2016 Arbitral Award and are in accordance with international law, specifically the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which guarantees all states the right to navigate freely within their EEZ.
I urge China to cease and desist from these unlawful and provocative actions.
Atin ang Panatag Shoal. Walang nilalabag na batas ang mga barko ng Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) sa kanilang paglalayag doon na nasa loob ng ating karagatan at bahagi ang ating karapatan.
Hindi kailanman magiging katanggap-tanggap ang pagiging marahas ng China sa ating mga kababayan.
I urge our ASEAN and international partners to stand in solidarity with the Filipino people in defending our sovereignty, regional stability and security, and — most importantly — the rule of law in the West Philippine Sea.
I likewise urge our government to take firm and decisive diplomatic steps to hold China accountable for its actions and to ensure that such incidents do not happen again.