Speaker Martin Romualdez on Saturday slammed China’s regulation of detaining foreigners trespassing within the West Philippine Sea, saying it will create additional tensions within the disputed waters.
“China’s aggressive pronouncements are a blatant escalation of tensions in the West Philippine Sea. These unilateral actions flagrantly violate international law and the established norms that guide the Philippines and other law-abiding nations with claims in the South China Sea,” Romualdez mentioned in a press release.
The assertion comes after China issued a regulation empowering its coast guard to detain foreigners trespassing within the South China Sea. It cited a regulatory doc of Beijing set to take impact in June.
“Foreigners suspected of illegally passing China’s borders can be held for up to 60 days,” in keeping with the media report.
Romualdez, nevertheless, urged China to respect worldwide rulings and performance as a accountable member of the worldwide neighborhood, as an alternative of imposing its personal legal guidelines unilaterally and “bullying” different nations.
“The House of the Filipino People will not tolerate any arrests of our citizens or fishermen within our own Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). We will fiercely defend our sovereignty and ensure the safety and rights of our people,” he mentioned.
Earlier, Atin Ito, the civilian group which not too long ago went to Scarborough Shoal within the West Philippine Sea (WPS) additionally denounced China’s risk.
“China’s threats on so-called trespassers in the West Philippine Sea are a clear indication of their desperation,” Akbayan president and Atin Ito Coalition co-convenor Rafaela David said in a statement.
“It is China which is trespassing in our seas. These threats are not only a violation of international law but also an admission by China that our peaceful, civilian-led initiatives are effective and winning the hearts and minds of many in the global community,” she added.
Meanwhile, Romualdez earlier this week called on the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to submit a comprehensive and strategic “modernization plan” ahead of the deliberations on the proposed 2025 national budget.
Romualdez said the plan should outline the necessary steps and resources required to enhance the Coast Guard’s capabilities, particularly for patrolling and safeguarding the Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.
“Our national security and sovereignty are paramount. By ensuring that our Coast Guard is well-equipped and well-funded, we can better protect our territorial integrity against external threats and assert our sovereign rights in these contested waters,” Romualdez
China’s expansive claims over many of the South China Sea overlap with the West Philippine Sea, together with the Scarborough Shoal which the Philippine civilian mission led by the Atin Ito coalition sought to succeed in.
Scarborough Shoal, often known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal, is situated 124 nautical miles west of Zambales and inside the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile unique financial zone (EEZ). —Jamil Santos/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
