Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday urged elevating the problem within the West Philippine Sea to the extent of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) amid China’s newest aggression towards Philippine troops.
The newly put in Senate high chief raised this when requested if the Philippines ought to file one other case towards China.
“Option palagi ‘yan ng ating pamahalaan pero isang concern din na nais kong i-bring up ay sana subukan, kung kakayanin ng ating DFA, na dalhin ito sa ASEAN. ‘Yan ang regional organization na kinabibilangan ng Pilipinas at hindi maikakaila ang isyung ito kaugnay sa West Philippine Sea ay nagaganap sa loob na nasasakupan ng ASEAN,” Escudero stated.
“Hindi kilalang political na asosasyon ang ASEAN subalit forum pa rin ito para mapag-usapan anumang nagaganap sa parteng ito ng ating mundo dito sa ating rehiyon,” he added.
(Filing one other case towards China is at all times an possibility of our authorities, however one concern I wish to deliver up is, if the Department of Foreign Affairs can do it, deliver the problem to the ASEAN. It is the regional group that the Philippines is part of and one can deny that the West Philippine Sea concern is going on in areas which can be a part of ASEAN.
ASEAN isn’t referred to as a political affiliation however it’s nonetheless a discussion board the place no matter’s occurring in our area might be mentioned.)
Reacting to the video launched by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) exhibiting Chinese personnel snatching the provides meant for Filipino troopers stationed at BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal, Escudero stated this appears to escalate stress within the space.
But the lawmaker appealed for all events to stay calm regardless of the latest actions dedicated by the Chinese personnel, stressing that nobody desires a warfare within the area.
“Tila dagdag escalation ito subalit sana ang aking hiling at panalangin manatiling mahinahon ang magkabilang panig – ang ating bansa at ang bansang Tsina – anuman ang uri ng opensibang ginagawa nila tulad ng pag-agaw,” Escudero stated.
“Sana huwag patulan ng ating bansa dahil uulitin ko walang may gusto ng anumang uri ng digmaan na sumiklab dito sa rehiyon natin at lalong-lalo na kung ang magiging battle ground ay ating bansa hindi naman ibang lugar,” he added.
(It seems like additional escalation however my want and prayer is for each events — the Philippines and China — to stay calm regardless of this incident.
I hope our nation is not going to be provoked as a result of, I repeat, no one desires any type of warfare to erupt in our area particularly if our nation will grow to be the battle floor.)
Escudero reiterated that these actions might be mentioned by way of a dialogue or any type of communication between the events.
China claims nearly all the South China Sea, together with components claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. The part of the ocean that’s throughout the Philippines’ unique financial zone was renamed the West Philippine Sea.
In 2016, a world arbitration tribunal within the Hague stated China’s claims had no authorized foundation. Beijing has refused to acknowledge the choice. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
