The West Philippine Sea dispute is a matter that Filipinos must cope with for generations, retired Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio stated.
As a part of the panel on BBC’s World Questions program, Carpio was requested if China might develop into much less aggressive in direction of the Philippine troops after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. stated he’s agency on defending Philippine territory.
“I call this dispute an intergenerational struggle for Filipinos, so I do not see this dispute being resolved anytime soon,” he stated.
“China has doubled down over the years, it’s very clear now to everyone. So we have to prepare for a very long struggl., China has clarified the these waters are its national territory, which includes the high seas of South China Sea. Of course, the high seas belonged to mankind, nobody owns that, but China is claiming all that as its national territory,” Carpio added.
He stated that though a number of international locations have expressed help for the Philippines on this matter, China has the world’s largest navy and can also be one of many world’s main nuclear powers.
Still, even with the lengthy battle, Carpio stated the Philippines mustn’t let China take over the WPS.
Progressive group Akbayan Citizens Action Party president Rafaela David, in the meantime, stated that Filipino fishermen are those most affected on this dispute.
“Filipinos are not going to be bullied and we are part of the fight. We need moving forward, a whole of nation approach. We must show China that we are standing for our sovereignty,” she stated.
Last week, six Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and maritime militia vessels harassed and blocked the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Malabrigo whereas it was en path to the Bajo de Masinloc, or Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine vessel tried to achieve the disputed reef twice, however its efforts have been prevented by the harmful maneuvers of the CGC and Chinese maritime militia vessels.
It is the newest in an extended sequence of harassment of Filipino ships by Chinese vessels. In 2016, a world courtroom dominated that China’s large claims over practically everything of the South China Sea are invalid. China has ignored the ruling. — BM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
