SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Monday expressed alarm over what he described as the “increasingly aggressive” actions of China in the West Philippine Sea.
“Again, we condemn in the strongest terms this newest reckless and dangerous maneuvers by the China Coast Guard on our vessels, this time a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ship conducting a humanitarian mission by resupplying Filipino fishermen with food, medical supplies and diesel,” he said.
This is the second time in about a week that China “used its might to harass and terrorize our vessels and personnel inside our own territory,” he said.
On August 19, China Coast Guard ships rammed two Philippine Coast Guard vessels.
The BFAR ship was resupplying fishermen in Hasa-Hasa Shoal, which is about 60 nautical miles from Rizal, Palawan, and Escoda Shoal, located around 110 nautical miles away also from Rizal town.
“This area is clearly within the 200-mile exclusive economic zone of the Philippines under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, to which China and the Philippines are signatories,” Speaker Romualdez said.
He noted that the two shoals are more than 1,000 miles from China.
The leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives repeated his appeal for China to respect and follow the international law it signed, and to exercise restraint and stop all aggressive actions.
He said Beijing should pursue consultations and dialogue as a way to resolve conflict, and not resort to confrontation and aggression.
Speaker Romualdez reiterated that the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. remains committed to upholding the country’s dignity, territorial integrity and sovereignty.
