We ain’t free at all and today’s 124th celebration of Independence Day—with China’s abusive stance over the West Philippine Sea and the past (Duterte) and incoming (Marcos Jr.’s) sheepish treatment of China’s encroachment manifest that we are enslaved (though not tacitly) by that superpower.
The persistent encroachment and blocking by Chinese vessels, principally Chinese Coast Guard (CCG), over the West Philippine Sea depriving legitimate activities of the Philippine government in the area, the shadowing by CCG of legit research vessels and putting up islands and barricades (buoys and nets) to ward off Philippine Navy boats and coastal fishermen, make a mockery of our Independence Day celebration today.
Just because China has been lending funds to our infrastructure projects and its veiled friendship in helping us (through vaccine donations) during the pandemic, do not entitle them to claim ownership over our territorial waters, that had been awarded in favor of the Philippines by the Hague arbitral court.
China even had the nerve to declare closed to fishing some of our fishing grounds and threatened to harm those that will defy their fishing ban.
Despite all these, the past (Duterte) and incoming (Marcos Jr.) administration still try to assuage China’s feelings through what they call bilateral discussions and negotiations when China had been spitting on their faces, showing off the helplessness of the Philippine government and their mighty naval, military and economic powers to the global community.
What good are all those assertions of ownership by the incoming administration, when he keeps harping on the close ties and friendship with this abusive superpower.
Just today, CCG has allegedly blocked the entrance to the Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, a low-tide elevation in the West Philippine Sea where a group of Filipino soldiers were stationed in a grounded a World War II vintage naval ship, reports said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest to the Chinese Embassy in Manila to officially complain against the so-called “interference” to the “legitimate” activities of the Philippine government in the area. (For all we know, inside the halls of the Sino embassy, they are laughing at us and calling us cowards and stupid).
The protest was announced over Twitter a few hours after Marcos Jr. appeared and gave a speech before the Chinese and Filipino-Chinese community in Makati City.
The DFA said the Chinese Coast Guard installed buoys and fish net, preventing Philippine Coast Guard vessels from entering the shoal to provide provisions for Filipino soldiers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre. The Philippine Coast Guard boats also bring troops in and out of the ship for regular rotation of forces.
The tweet did not give more details, except that these are “recent incidents” which also include China’s illegal fishing as well as “shadowing” of China Coast Guard vessels of Philippine boats.
“The DFA has lodged today another protest over recent incidents in Ayungin Shoal, including China’s illegal fishing, shadowing of China Coast Guard vessels of Philippine boats on a rotation & reprovision mission, and the installation of buoys & fish nets that blocked the shoal’s entrance.
“The 2016 Arbitral Award affirmed that Ayungin Shoal is within (Philippine exclusive economic zone) and continental shelf. (China) has no right to fish, monitor, or interfere with (Philippines’) legitimate activities therein. (The Philippines) calls on (China) to comply with its obligations under international law, including UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award,” the DFA tweet said.
Second diplomatic protest
This is the second diplomatic protest that was made public by the DFA this week among more than 300 protests that it said they have lodged during the President Duterte’s six-year term.
Last Thursday, the DFA protested the swarming of over 110 Chinese militia boats near the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef. This coincided on the Philippine-China Friendship Day and the visit of US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman.
Marcos, meanwhile, said he would continue the path taken by his predecessor President Duterte in pursuing an “independent foreign policy.” He was silent though on the West Philippine Sea – the thorn to the bilateral issues during his speech at the awarding ceremony of the Association of Philippines-Chinese Understanding (APCU).
“The difficulties and the differences we may have will be helped in every way as long as we continue trying, we continue to communicate, and continue to be forthright in the interests of each of our countries,” he said.
The APCU feted Marcos’ mother, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, with a Hall of Fame award for her continued dedication to advance Philippine and Chinese relations.
“I thank you all for putting in the Hall of Fame my mother and I think I may be biased but I think it is just right because China cannot find a greater champion than my mother in the Philippines,” he added.
100 Sino vessels in Julian Felipe Reef
Over 100 Chinese vessels were spotted again “illegally operating” in and around the waters of Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the West Philippine Sea last April 4, the Department of Foreign Affairs Thursday.
In a statement, the DFA said they protested the “return” of the swarming of Chinese vessels, which they noted happened barely a year after their first complaint over the massing of more than 220 ships in the area.
The protest was lodged on June 6. This is on top of “almost daily” diplomatic protests — over 300 — filed against China for various incursions in the South China Sea during the six-year term of the Duterte administration, a senior Philippine diplomat told Business Mirror.
Shaped like a wide boomerang, Julian Felipe Reef is located around 175 nautical miles west of Bataraza town of Palawan. It is the largest reef in the Pagkakaisa (Union) Banks and Reefs — a string of reefs, several of which were already occupied by China and Vietnam.
Manila claims Julian Felipe Reef is part of its territorial sea and has sovereignty. It is located within the Kalayaan Island Group and near the Chigua (Johnson South) Reef, which the arbitral tribunal had earlier declared as a high tide elevation and is entitled to 12 nautical miles territorial waters.
“The lingering unauthorized presence of Chinese fishing and maritime vessels is not only illegal but is also a source of instability in the region,” the DFA stressed.
The presence of more than 100 Chinese vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef “is contrary to the international law” including the 1982 UN Convention on the Sea and the “final and binding” 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling. It also reminded China’s commitments under the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, particularly in “exercising self-restraint.”
The DFA said it
“regrets this Chinese violation of international law” which they learned days after the tele-summit between President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 8. Both leaders had earlier reaffirmed their commitment to exercise restraint in “any and all endeavors” relating to the South China Sea dispute.
“The Philippines calls on China to comply with its obligations under international law, cease and desist from displaying illegal and irresponsible behavior, avoid further escalating tensions at sea and immediately withdraw all of its vessels from Philippine maritime zones,” the DFA added.
Tags: #China, #abusesonWPS, #diplomaticprotests, #IndependentDay