FOR ALL ITS aggression, laser lighting and water cannoning fishermen and vessels of state research and Coast Guard; and quarrying in nearby islands for materials to be used in its island building at the West Philippine Sea, China- not the Philippines– is the provocateur and the repugnant bully. By challenging Philippine officials and putting negative labels on them, China completely disrespects the Filipinos’ freedom of speech and movement.
Think tank Stratbase PH founder/CEO Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit said the facts are consistent and well-documented: it is China’s maritime forces that repeatedly employ coercive and dangerous acts at sea, including water cannons, aggressive maneuvers, and ramming incidents that have damaged Philippine vessels and harmed even Filipino civilians.”
“Under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), the 2016 Arbitral Award is final and binding on the parties and rejected China’s expansive ‘historic rights’ claims. Respect for international law, not rhetorical accusations, is the only durable foundation for stability.”
‘Philippine data show a persistent trade imbalance that does not erase accountability … (We maintain) strong and mutually beneficial economic partnerships with many countries, and none of these partners assert their interests through intimidation, coercion, or the use of force at sea.’
RESTRAINT
Manhit said calls for “restraint” sound hollow when Chinese maritime forces are reported conducting continued harassment against Philippine ships and fisherfolk whose livelihoods depend on waters international law recognizes within the Philippines’ maritime entitlements. He said deescalation begins when coercion ends.
Economic ties cannot be invoked to excuse violations of sovereign rights, Manhit added.
Philippine data show a persistent trade imbalance that does not erase accountability. The Philippines maintains strong and mutually beneficial economic partnerships with many countries, and none of these partners assert their interests through intimidation, coercion, or the use of force at sea.
SENATORS CONDEMNED
Already 15 senators have signed an unnumbered resolution denouncing the recent statements of the Chinese Embassy in Manila against certain Filipino government officials who criticized Beijing’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea.
They called on the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to take the necessary diplomatic measures to uphold the dignity of the Philippines and to ensure that relations with other states are conducted in accordance with international law and established principles of state relations.
The senators condemned the recent public statements of the Embassy, which they described as “contrary to accepted standards of diplomatic conduct and mutual respect between states.”
They affirmed the Philippines sovereign right and responsibility to present, assert, and defend its officials positions and national interests, in accordance with international law.
Signatories were: Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III; Panfilo “Ping” Lacson; Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri; Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan; Risa Hontiveros; Erwin Tulfo; Raffy Tulfo; Sherwin Gatchalian; Loren Legarda; JV Ejercito; Jinggoy Estrada; Bam Aquino; Lito Lapid; Camille Villar and Mark Villar.
COWARDLY ACT
Senator Pangilinan defended his ally, Senator Hontiveros, calling the Chinese Embassy in Manila “cowardly” and “duplicitous” for using social media to attack Filipino lawmakers. The word war began after the Chinese Embassy’s deputy spokesperson, Guo Wei, used social media to lecture Hontiveros for her criticisms of Beijing’s aggression in the West Philippine Sea. China cited the alleged “provocation” by some PH officials with a warning: Stop or pay the price.
“Now is the time for the country – the Executive, the Legislative branches of government to unite behind what I believe to be a bullying of a super power. And I believe the only way to deal with the bully is to stand up to it,” Pangilinan said.
“The UNCLOS issue is something that we insist on, not only the Philippines, but other ASEAN member states,” Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in a Reuters interview.
The idea of a formal code of conduct to ease tensions in the South China Sea was first raised over 20 years ago, but only in 2017 did the parties commit to start the drafting process. However, little substantive progress has been made since then.
A SENSITIVE ISSUE
The issue remains highly sensitive. China’s Southeast Asian neighbors want the code to be grounded in international law, which Beijing has repeatedly been accused of disregarding as it asserts its sovereignty over nearly all of the South China Sea.
Lazaro reiterated Manila’s position that the code must be legally binding, although she acknowledged this issue will require “further and deeper discussion” among ASEAN member states and China.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila has also filed a diplomatic protest against Tarriela after he used an image collage of Xi that appeared to be an AI-generated depiction of the leader fuming in anger, flexing his muscles, and even holding a wooden boat bearing a Philippine flag.